Besiktas sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci has revealed 'intense talks' took place with Dele Alli before he moved to the club and the on-loan Everton man is working 'intensely' to return to his best.
The midfielder joined Everton from Tottenham in February and made 11 appearances, but just one start, for the Goodison Park club last season. Alli then made two substitute outings - in league defeats against Chelsea and Aston Villa - for the Blues this season.
A two-time winner of the PFA's Young Player of the Year award, the England man did not score or register an assist in 13 games for Frank Lampard's side. And following a slow start to the campaign, Everton allowed Alli depart the club during the summer transfer window, with joining Besiktas on a season-long loan deal.
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Alli received a hero's welcome when he arrived in Istanbul to complete his move back in August. Supporters greeted him at the airport in their numbers before chants of his name could be heard.
The 26-year-old had a strong start at the Super Lig club, scoring his first club goal in more than a year in his second appearance for them. However, Alli has struggled in recent months and was recently publicly criticised by Besiktas coach Senol Gunes.
“I couldn’t affect the players,” he said. “Now I can easily touch them, but we haven’t touched Dele Alli yet. Let’s not discuss Dele Alli as a player, but he is below expectations in terms of efficiency.”
However, according to Kazanci, the Black Eagles have not given up on Alli and are hoping Gunes can get the Everton man back to his best.
“Dele Alli is working intensively. We had intense talks with him before we signed him,” he told Turkish broadcaster TRT Spor.
“Senol is famous for returning many players whose careers have been on the decline. We hope that he will be better in the second half of the season.”
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