One of the interesting developments in recent Premier League matches is the re-emergence of Ross Barkley at Chelsea.
Barkley left Everton for the Stamford Bridge club in a controversial £15 million deal in the January transfer window.
He had an uncertain start to his career at Chelsea and it seemed at first that he might end up drifting into obscurity and follow another ex-Everton youth team product Jack Rodwell. He was an equally highly regarded player who left the Blues for Manchester City, (again for a very similar fee that seemed very low at the time), before eventually ending up at Sunderland.
Barkley’s move to Chelsea followed a difficult time for the young midfielder at Goodison Park. He had it seemed become increasingly disillusioned with life at Everton in the final months of his time at the club.
So after he declined to sign a new contract there seemed only one way forward and that was to sell the player before he could leave on a free. So after thinking he might be going to Tottenham he ended up on the other side of London at Chelsea.
His move has left a sour note after claims he hadn’t been coached adequately during his time at the Blues.
After a stop-start beginning, recently Barkley has got proper game time at Chelsea and he has started to deliver some impressive performances.
He is becoming an increasingly influential player in a Chelsea side that is proving a strong and consistent team that looks capable of challenging for the major honours.
Barkley has great talent, now lost to Everton. He’s two-footed, powerful, quick and is able to see and make a pass as well as contribute goals too.
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These kinds of qualities are just what Everton need in midfield. And it would be ironic if Barkley was to go on and fulfil his potential at Chelsea, given that almost laughably small transfer fee.
I’m frustrated when Everton lose out on young players, like Rodwell and Barkley, that have been nurtured by the club and are then sold on for derisory transfer fees.
And I can’t help wondering that if had been prepared and able to wait for Marco Silva to take over whether he would have been able to find a place in the emerging side the Portuguese is trying to build.