Paul Brown: Everton would cause uproar by signing Ross Barkley
The Daily Star journalist Paul Brown has told Give Me Sport that Everton signing Ross Barkley this month could spark an uproar amongst the fans.
The Telegraph reported last month that the Toffees are open to bringing back the Chelsea midfielder to Goodison Park in a temporary deal as Rafa Benitez looks to bolster his squad.
Barkley left Everton for Stamford Bridge in controversial circumstances four years ago, and most of the fans still have not forgiven him.
With a return being mooted, Brown has told GMS it could be a massive disaster, saying: “I think if the owner was to sign off on that one, I think it would cause uproar.
“I don’t think anyone at Everton is ready for the sort of uproar that might cause, really.”
Absolutely
The Toffees visited Stamford last month, and he was booed by their fans when he took to the touchline to warm up.
The Everton supporters will definitely not welcome him back with open arms should such a move go through, and Farhad Moshiri and Rafa Benitez will be further alienating themselves with such a move.
The player himself is not likely to be open to such a move as he knows he will need a very thick skin to be able to stand the torrent of abuses bound to come his way.
Barkley is currently struggling at Chelsea, and while he has the quality and talent to make the Everton midfield better, he is the last person the fans want to see at Goodison Park.
The Toffees simply have to look elsewhere for attacking midfield reinforcements.
They have already landed Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson, and one or two more quality signings should be able to help get their campaign back on track.
Barkley’s return would only worsen things.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting January loan-to-buy bid for centre-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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