Tyler Dibling has endured a challenging start to his Everton career since joining in a £40m transfer from Southampton.
Everton fought hard to sign Tyler Dibling, and there was great fanfare when they finally managed to land his signature towards the end of the summer transfer window.
However, David Moyes hardly gave him any minutes until December, when Iliman Ndiaye departed for the Africa Cup of Nations.
How would you describe David Moyes’ handling of Tyler Dibling so far? 😕
He's made just one league start ahead of Arsenal…
That’s allowed Dibling to start four of the last five games across all competitions, so Toffees fans have been able to get a closer look at him.
But, Dibling hasn’t impressed at all and some supporters are beginning to really question his future on Merseyside.
That said, here’s why there needs to be some patience with the 19-year-old.
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Tyler Dibling is further ahead in his development than Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye were
It’s easy to forget that Dibling is still actually a teenager and won’t celebrate his 20th birthday until next month.
The 19-year-old was fast-tracked to first-team football when he was just 17 at Southampton, and pretty much since then, he’s been playing at senior level.
When Jack Grealish was 19, he was plying his trade in League One with Notts County on a season-long loan deal.
Iliman Ndiaye wasn’t even playing in the top four divisions of English football, as he was at Conference side Boreham Wood.
Grealish and Ndiaye have since developed into two of the best wingers in the Premier League, so Dibling is quite clearly ahead of schedule in terms of his development.
Everton should consider a loan for Tyler Dibling
Dibling would probably be better suited to a six-month loan for the rest of the season, because he clearly needs to get into a rhythm playing regular football.
He isn’t going to get that at Everton, as Iliman Ndiaye will be taking his spot when he returns from AFCON this month.
So, if the Toffees can sign a cheap wide player, just to provide Ndiaye with competition, Dibling should be heading out on loan to the top of the Championship.
That’s probably below his level, but if he can flourish at perhaps the league leaders Coventry City for 15 or so games, he’d come back a much better player in the summer.
There may even be takers in the Premier League, but Everton should avoid sticking him in a relegation battle.
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