Signed; Sealed; Dele-vered

I must admit: I haven't had this feeling for a long time. That awesome feeling when your club buys a superstar that takes you through the roof. I felt it in 1987 when we signed Ian Snodin (ahead of Liverpool no less). And again in 1995 when we signed one of the best players in the world; Andrei Kanchelskis from mighty Manchester United. And I felt it again today: when we signed Tottenham star Dele Alli.

It is quite madness at how fast it has all transpired. The appointment of Frank Lampard; the loan signing of Donny van de Beek; and then the permanent signing of Dele Alli. Never had I dreamed this could be possible. The fact that Alli was a free transfer (with bonuses included) just makes it even more of a no-brainer.

Everton of course; have signed some real superstars down the years. When we signed Gylfi Sigurdsson; it took the world by storm and heralded the start of the money-awash Farhad Moshiri-era. Suddenly; it looked like Everton could become champions. Well after some inconsistent performances & off-field drama; it's not quite looking that way at the moment. When we signed Michael Keane from Burnley; he was the top young defender and we had gotten another big name. Well let's just say that most fans prefer to see him on the bench in the current state. And when we signed Morgan Schneiderlin from Man United; it was another huge coup and we had a superstar on our hands. Well let's just say after some rather ragged performances; he was condemned by everyone at the club and not-so-nicely shifted out to Nice.

But no signing has been bigger than Dele Alli; once regarded as one of the best young players in the game; one of the most highly-rated; and still only 25. Together with former Ajax hotshot van de Beek; suddenly Everton have been transformed into a formidable-looking outfit.