Harry Redknapp has revealed he called nephew Frank Lampard to urge him to "take a gamble" on Dele Alli at Everton - but admitted the move turned out a "disaster".
Alli was out of favour at Tottenham under Antonio Conte having struggled to make his mark in the previous regimes under Jose Mourinho and Nono Espirito Santo. Former Spurs boss Redknapp is a long-term admirer of Alli's talents and was straight on the phone to Lampard as Everton were mired in a relegation battle last January.
But Redknapp discovered Lampard was already two steps ahead of him, as he disclosed that he was already discussing a potential move with Alli himself ahead of the deadline day signing back in January. Fast forward eight months though and Alli's time at Goodison Park has been cut short as he joined Turkish side Besiktas on loan for the rest of the season, having failed to make an impression in 13 appearances at Everton.
“I rung Frank & I said ‘Frank, take a chance on Dele Alli’," Redknapp recalled to TalkSport. "Fantastic ability, you can get him going, coming to a big club like Everton, it would give him a big lift.
"Frank said 'Harry, we're down the road with him. I said 'Brilliant, I think he'll be great for you.
"He was a disaster - a disaster. I watched him play, he was losing the ball, he walks, he doesn't run, I don't know what's happened to him. What has happened to him? He's going to Turkey - where is his career going?"
Can Alli revive his career in Turkey? Have your say in the comments below.
Alli played 11 times for Everton in the back end of last season following his permanent move from Spurs, which could have eventually risen to £40million dependent on various performance-related clauses. He signed a two-and-a-half year deal but 10 of his 11 appearances came off the bench - including in the 5-0 defeat to Spurs, while his only start was in the final game of the season drubbing by Arsenal when Everton's Premier League safety had already been confirmed.
This season was a similar story, with All's only two outings for Everton coming as a substitute. Lampard offered an insight into the reasons behind Alli's decline after his move was confirmed.
“Look, I do have great empathy for the trajectory of his career in a sense, because it is just clear to see - I don’t have to dress that up in any way,” Lampard said. “So, having worked closely with him for a period, I have to say he really does need to understand the relation of training and focus at the highest level, to what that means to performance.
"I actually know on a personal level what training can do and focus can do, and that’s something he really has to take on board.” Alli made his Besiktas debut on Monday as a starter in the 3-1 win over Sivasspor, playing the full 90 minutes.
“I think it’s the right thing," Lampard said. "I think it hasn't worked out for Dele here for different reasons and he can go there now and hopefully play games, have success, help in person and help us and we’ll review it through the year and obviously at the end of the season.”
Asked if there was any way back to Alli, Lampard replied: “Yes, that’s what the deal is so we’ll see how it goes.”
