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Does a Ross Barkley return to Everton make any sense

By Matt Townsend

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Ross Barkley of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Brentford and Chelsea at Brentford Community Stadium on December 22, 2021 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Ross Barkley of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Brentford and Chelsea at Brentford Community Stadium on December 22, 2021 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) /
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With tomorrow night’s match against Newcastle now postponed leaving Everton without a game before the New Year, attention once more returns to transfer rumours.

One of those rumours involves former Everton youth team graduate Ross Barkely. According to the Daily Telegraph Barkely is on the radar of Blues’ boss Rafa Benitez as he searches for solutions to his team’s many chronic problems.

This latest story about a Barkley return, claims he would return to Goodison Park on loan for the rest of the season as he has failed to hold down a regular place in the Chelsea side since his move there in January 2018.

The former Toffees’ midfielder (who was also sent on loan to Aston Villa last season) would presumably represent an affordable option if he comes on a short-term deal as Benitez looks to strengthen his midfield for the second half of the season.

But, does a return to Merseyside for the 28-year-old make sense for Everton?

I’m a little in two minds over this idea. Certainly, Barkely hasn’t exactly lit up the Premier League since that move to Stamford Bridge three years ago and he’s struggled to make much of an impact again this term.

He’s another talent who has failed to make it consistently, and I imagine it would be controversial as some elements of the Goodison crowd wouldn’t likely be happy to see him back in a royal blue shirt.

Then on the other hand, given the club’s hugely difficult financial situation the cloth will have to be cut to take account of this and a player like Barkley would be a much more affordable option than some of the other players who have been touted as possible targets.

And, perhaps he will feel he has something to prove if he returns to Everton next month? After all he was once regarded as arguably the most talented player to emerge from the club’s youth system since Wayne Rooney.

However, like so many recent youth team products he didn’t fulfill that initial potential, although that was perhaps not all his fault and in part because he never got the chance to play in a settled team under one manager.

Anyway, this is like so many of these stories probably nothing more than speculative jounalism. However, a return for Barkley on loan is perhaps more likely than many of the other rumours we cover on this site.

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