Journalist ‘not 100% convinced’ Ross Barkley wants Everton return
Journalist Dean Jones is ‘not 100 per cent convinced’ that Ross Barkley wants to return to Everton this January, he told Touchline Talk.
The former Toffees star has spent the last four years away from Goodison Park with Chelsea and Aston Villa but has failed to live up to his potential after being one of the most exciting academy prospects in years.
This season Barkley has made just 11 appearances in all competitions, with just two starts combined in the Premier League and Champions League.
This has led to speculation of a return to Goodison Park on loan during the January transfer window, with The Telegraph reporting interest.
However, while speaking on the Touchline Talk podcast, Dean Jones has revealed that he is not convinced that the player would be interested in a move back to his former side as it would potentially be ’embarrassing’.
“Barkley makes sense in one side of it, because he’s a guy that comes in, understands exactly where this club intends to be, expects to be,” he said. “And I guess could be looked at as a good place for him to bounce back from what’s been a mainly disappointing stay at Chelsea.
“But there’s also that side of it where is he admitting defeat and is it embarrassing to go back to Everton at this point? Like, you think of how that deal came about, how that move transpired – you know, you’re kind of going back there with your tail between your legs and I’m not sure Ross Barkley’s going to do that.
“So I think he’ll keep his options open for a bit, see what else is out there because I’m not 100% convinced that this is what he foresees as his future.”
Pride and ego
Barkley’s return to Goodison Park could go one of two ways, with fans clearly split on their former starlet.
He was booed when he previously returned to the club last month and hasn’t had the greatest of relationships with supporters since his departure in 2018.
With that said though, when he’s fully fit and firing he possesses a lot of the qualities that this current Everton side are missing in their midfield. Once dubbed as ‘special’ by Roberto Martinez, Barkley could prove a good option for the Toffees.
He is creative, is a good one v one operator on the ball, has good energy to get around the pitch and he’s shown since he left that he has improved defensively too.
A loan deal wouldn’t be the end of the world for either party, with Barkley likely to get far more game time at Everton than he would at Chelsea, while Rafa Benitez’s side would get a player who instantly improves their team.
In other Everton news, club ‘seeking to convince’ South American star about January transfer.