Michael Ball drops verdict on potential Everton transfer chase for Ross Barkley
Everton should avoid re-signing Ross Barkley in the January transfer window, but should look to sign someone with a similar profile according to Michael Ball.
Writing in his column for the Liverpool Echo (2 January), the former Toffees defender admitted that the Blues should be looking to bring in a creative midfielder during the window.
But he feels that ex-Everton graduate Barkley is someone who shouldn’t be targetted as there is a reason he is at Luton, and that’s because defensively he isn’t good enough.
“One player we could have signed this summer to provide some midfield creativity is Ross Barkley, who recently suggested plenty of Blues would have loved him to come back home,” he wrote.
“A lot of our fans remain unhappy with his initial departure because he is the type of player we need. He is someone who runs with the ball and can score.
“Unfortunately for Ross, he has not been consistent enough over the last 10 years. He is doing well at Luton right now, but he didn’t really succeed abroad and it didn’t work out at Chelsea.
“Barkley is a magic player and likes to play the attacking role, but it was his defensive play that so often let him down at Everton. That may be the reason no other club than Luton were prepared to take a chance on him. He has never been able to improve on that side of his game, Ross was all about ‘give me the ball and I’ll do something.’
“I don’t think Barkley will be the answer for Everton in January, but he is the sort of profile we should be looking at.”
Sensible
There’s always a bit of romance with Everton and academy players, and sometimes fans can get a bit carried away with that rather than looking at what is actually in front of them.
Barkley has been in terrific form in recent weeks and has looked really good for Luton, but it’s fair to say that is probably because they have been pretty bad too.
Yes he is a super talented footballer and would offer plenty to the team, but under Sean Dyche there is a demand that defensive stability and intelligence is at the forefront of your mind and Barkley doesn’t do that.
Everton need attacking reinforcements to get away from the relegation battle that they have been placed in because of the Premier League’s ridiculous points deduction, and Barkley isn’t the right answer.
Yes he’s magic, yes he’s a Toffee and he loves the club, but Ball is right. This is a deal to avoid.
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