After all the exciting few weeks where hot European prospects flocked in at Goodison Park as Everton went on a spending spree, it is now time for the much-awaited departures from the Toffees camp. Following the highly-rated departure of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United a few weeks back, it is now their youngster Ross Barkley that is targeted.
If reports are to be believed, Premier League Champions Chelsea are now eyeing a move for the 23-year-old and Antonio Conte sees him as someone who could provide excellent competition to his playmakers Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian. Barkley has been quite versatile across the attacking third as Ronald Koeman has used him from the centre as well as from the flanks.
Chelsea have upped the ante now signing three players over a span of two weeks. Since missing out on Lukaku as United hijacked the deal from under their nose, the Blues have gone on to bring in Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata. With Champions League competition to play for, the Blues are at full throttle now with a string of more major names to arrive at Stamford Bridge.
And Barkley could just be the signing they would need to get the urgency that has sometimes been missing for them. Following the arrival of Davy Klaassen from AFC Ajax, Barkley’s position is pretty much in danger now. His decision to stall the contract while approaching the last 12 months at the club hasn’t been seen well by manager Ronald Koeman, and if he fails to nail down a club this summer, chances are that he would see more bench time just before the World Cup year.
The Everton academy product has been phenomenal for the Toffees since breaking into the side back in 2013. In the 179 games he played for them, Barkley has managed to score 27 goals and assisted 28 times. A central attacking midfielder by nature, Koeman has used the player on the right wing, left wing and even in the central midfield.
Whether it is dribbling past opponents, finding incisive through balls, taking long-range shots or finishing the key pass from congested areas, Barkley has shown how complete a midfielder he has the potential to become. Although his defensive attributes haven’t been something good, his stocky figure compensates for that in the hustle up front.
Last season, Barkley scored five goals and assisted eight times. And though Koeman doesn’t hold him in his good books anymore, his talent could come in extremely handy for Everton in their domestic as well as European campaign.
