Transfer window: Dele Alli’s Besiktas move real shame, says Merson

Arsenal title winner Paul Merson is sorry seeing Everton midfielder Dele Alli’s loan move to Besiktas.

There is an option for the Turkish side to make the deal permanent for either £6 million or £8m depending on when, or if, the deal is triggered.

Merson said in his Daily Star column about Dele’s move to Turkey: “He was the next Frank Lampard the way he arrived in the box, there was none of them about. I couldn’t talk highly enough of the kid. I find it a real shame to see him leave the Premier League.

“I don’t like to say too much because you don’t know what’s going on away from the football field but I feel for him. When he went to Everton, I thought that was an unbelievable move that would kickstart his career again.

“Now he’s gone to Turkish football, we’re never going to see him ever again. When do we ever see it on the tele? I really hoped it would work out at Everton but when you’ve got all the money in the world, it becomes harder to stay at the top. I just hope he’s alright because it is a major fall.”