£42m Everton Star Could Leave On Loan In January: Is It The Right Decision?

Everton could sanction a loan move for 20-year-old Tyler Dibling in January, despite his recent Carabao Cup display against Wolves.

Football Insider reported on September 17 that Everton expect to consider loan offers for Dibling when the January window opens. Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told the outlet that the winger sits outside David Moyes’ long-term plans, Brown believes regular football elsewhere could help Dibling improve key areas and regain confidence before returning to Moyes’ thinking.

Dibling joined Everton from Southampton in 2025 for a fee reported at about £35m-£42m. This season, he has made two appearances across all competitions, with one assist in 154 EFL Cup minutes. He has yet to play in the Premier League and has remained an unused substitute across four league matches.

His latest outing changed the tone slightly. Against Wolves, Dibling supplied the pass for Charly Alcaraz’s 80th-minute winner, with 75 touches, 90% passing accuracy and three completed dribbles. He tracked back to stop a Wolves counter.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Tyler Dibling of Everton and Ghislain Konan of Wolverhampton Wanderers compete for the ball during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 16, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

I wouldn’t send him away in January if Everton can give him a route into the first-team rotation. The Wolves’ performance showed what Dibling can bring when he receives touches and freedom to combine.

Unlike a pure runner, he often slows attacks down, protects possession and links play in a style that has echoes of Jack Grealish. That trait gives Everton another way through packed defensive blocks.

Can Everton keep Dibling?

There are flaws, though. His league output since joining remains a major concern, with no domestic goals or assists, while his lack of top-end pace increases the pressure on his ball control. He can disappear when central combinations dry up. Dibling’s 64-minute outing against Preston showed how quickly that problem can become tactical.

Yet his Wolves display brought encouraging signs. 75 touches, three completed dribbles and a vital recovery tackle showed greater fight alongside his technical qualities. Jack Grealish, Brennan Johnson and Tyrique George have squeezed his route into the side, but that shouldn’t end his development at Everton.

A loan makes sense only if Moyes sees no realistic role for him. Regular minutes could sharpen his decision-making, end product and physical adaptation. But Everton should first test whether the 20-year-old can carry his Wolves performance into league football, because losing a technically gifted squad option just as his confidence rises could prove costly.