2) Ross Barkley
Many reports have suggested that Tottenham are eyeing a move for Everton’s Ross Barkley, including The Daily Express, who insist that Spurs are keen for the 23-year-old to out pen to paper and play for Spurs in January. They also say that the midfielder has permission to leave Goodison Park as long as the Toffees receive a bid of £30m or above in the New Year.
A string of poor performances left Barkley out of the Everton side for a short period of time, and after another uninspiring performance in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool last Monday night, the midfielder may now be seen as surplus to requirements to Ronald Koeman.
I strongly oppose a Spurs move for Barkley. Firstly, there is the price tag. Being a young Englishman, Spurs are likely to have to pay way over the odds in order to sign the 23-year-old. Secondly, there comes consistency, and his overall quality. Ronald Koeman has recently voiced his fears that Barkley will never reach his full potential in his footballing career. This is worrying coming from the mouth of his own manager.
It would be a huge mistake if Spurs were to sign Ross Barkley if the midfielder has a low chance of improving on previous performances. Paying over the odds for a young English player that has little more to offer than he has already shown (which isn’t too much in my opinion), would be a huge error from Spurs.
