Tyler Dibling: Ex-Everton senior scout 'worried' about 'wonderful talent' amid developments
Everton are coming to terms with the fact that they massively overpaid when they bought Tyler Dibling from Southampton.
That is the opinion of former senior Everton scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The Toffees paid a fee in the region of £42million for the 20-year-old when they signed him last summer, but that deal has aged poorly.
Dibling made just 18 appearances across all competitions in his debut season at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and failed to register a single goal involvement.
There has been some talk of the winger leaving Everton this summer, whether that is on loan or on a permanent deal, with RB Leipzig holding historical interest.
Dibling may not be ready to call time on his career with the Toffees yet, but he will need to make a point to David Moyes in pre-season if he is to get an opportunity.
Bryan King concerned by Tyler Dibling developments
The moments of magic Dibling showed in his breakthrough season for Southampton were certainly no fluke.
The winger clearly has plenty of talent, but there is a sense that Everton will not see it unless they back him to start regularly.
Should Moyes not be capable of doing so, it begs the question of why the 20-year-old was bought for such a high figure in the first place.
"I can't see Dibling being a force in the Premier League, to be honest," King told Football Insider. "I think somebody went into an electrical shop wanting to buy a fan and came out buying the whole kitchen and then realising they've already got a kitchen.
"I'm worried about the Dibling deal, to be honest. That was an awful lot of money to spend on somebody who's hardly proven.
"Wonderful talent. He'd have to be for 42 million. I wonder whether there's a house and a car involved."
Dibling needs Dwight McNeil exit
This season, many of the opportunities that likely should have gone to Dibling ended up going to Dwight McNeil.
The 26-year-old managed just one assist in 26 appearances across all competitions and was equally unimpressive.
What angered Everton fans, however, was that McNeil has just one year remaining on his contract and may leave this summer.
He is likely not part of the Toffees' future and should not be prioritised for minutes over Dibling, who very much could be.