England’s golden generation cater for both him and Steven Gerrard in the same team? Let’s find out how Dele Alli and Van De Beek might fit in.
Both with an eye for goal, both could spot a pass. Sven-Goran Eriksson was faced with such a dilemma during his time as England boss, before you mention the brilliance of Paul Scholes.
Eriksson decided on playing the trio with David Beckham across the middle – describing them as the “four best midfielders”.
The fact that nothing was won during this period was a major disappointment, and Lampard is now faced with a similar selection headache as he familiarizes himself with his new squad at Everton.
It is the start of a new era as Lampard prepares to take charge for the first time in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Brentford at Goodison Park. Owner Farhad Moshiri said of his sixth permanent appointment in as many years: “It’s the most important signing we can get in this window. I’m optimistic.”
But Lampard was one of three new faces to arrive on Merseyside on deadline day. Dele Alli signed a two-and-a-half-year contract as his seven-year stay at Tottenham came to an end in the final minutes of the transfer window.
Alli’s move came just hours after Everton had confirmed former Chelsea boss Lampard as Rafael Benitez’s successor. Lampard also secured the services of Donny van de Beek on deadline day, the Holland midfielder joining on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season.
Like Alli, who was a member of Gareth Southgate’s 2018 World Cup squad but has struggled under a succession of managers at Spurs in recent seasons and fallen out of the England reckoning, Van de Beek has failed to impress.
The 24-year-old joined United in a £35m move from Ajax in 2020 only to make just four Premier League starts for the Red Devils – but both Van de Beek and Alli now have the chance to reignite their respective careers.
Lampard’s first set of acquisitions are both cup-tied for the Brentford tie, however they will be available for the crucial Premier League encounter at Newcastle next Tuesday. We take a look at how and where both could be incorporated into Lampard’s new-look side.
The Toffees are only four points above the relegation zone having won just once in the Premier League since the end of September. Only Newcastle (£93m) spent more than the potential £76m Everton agreed across the January transfer window, and this was in part down to being left short due to injuries in key positions.
Benitez failed to land a right-back in the summer window, and one of his final acts was to bring Nathan Patterson in as cover for Seamus Coleman in a £16m deal from Rangers. In signing Alli and Van de Beek, the club have also recognised how the team’s attacking output plummeted in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Signing two players with similar traits has generated plenty of talk on how both can be shoehorned into the same starting XI, and yet what Everton have lacked is depth when first-choice personnel have been on the treatment table.
Lampard has options. Gerrard has already shown how both Emi Buendia and Philippe Coutinho can both start in the same team, but Danny Ings has been sacrificed with Ollie Watkins the central striker.
The question, therefore, is can Everton select a team comprising of Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Alli and Van de Beek?