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By Johnny Edward.
Everton midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has been told to stay at Merseyside and continue his upward trajectory under manager Frank Lampard, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Iwobi has been one of the few positives for the Toffees this season, but has been stalling over signing a new long-term deal with the club despite ongoing talks between both parties.
The 26-year-old’s current contract is due to run out in 2024 with the Toffees, who currently sit in 17th place in the table.
Speaking with PUNCH Sports Extra, Sunday Oliseh, a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group at the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar, believes the former Arsenal forward has transformed under Lampard and should remain at Goodison Park.
“He has performed consistently well at Everton this season and you can see that he has been revitalised after taking up a new central midfield role since Frank Lampard joined the club last January,” Oliseh said.
“Prior to Lampard’s appointment, he had struggled to find form playing on the wing, and Evertonians had practically written him off as a wasted potential.
“Since scoring a last-minute winner against Newcastle last season, chants of Iwobi have been ringing around Merseyside ever since.”
Atlanta ’96 gold medallist Joseph Dosu expressed confidence in Iwobi’s abilities to continue flourishing at the club.
“The club has shown intent to keep him by offering a new deal to stay, which I believe he should accept and stay. He is being appreciated by the club, his manager and the fans, something that he didn’t really enjoy from where he was coming from.”
Meanwhile, Iwobi has called on the fans to stand by Lampard, who he believes is working hard to change the club.
“The club is very ambitious and we want to achieve something,” Iwobi told Liverpool Echo.
“That’s what we want to do – we owe it to them and to ourselves. I’ll say stick by him (Lampard) because, not just me, the players do appreciate what he is doing and what he is doing for the club. He is a hard-working man, who is putting his job first – maybe before his family! He does work very hard and is an understanding man, so stick by him.”