Barkley Everton return is ‘just speculation’ at the moment

There are so many rumours of this player or that coming to Everton at the moment it’s becoming a challenge keeping up with them all.

The list is growing all the time and while several players have recently joined it still includes a lot of names such as Maxwel Cornet, Idrissa Gueye, Billy Gilmour and Armando Broja. All have been linked repeatedly with Everton.

One other player being persistently claimed to be returning to Goodison Park is Ross Barkley. The former Blues’ youth product has not settled at Chelsea since his move there and several media outlets have said he could be returning to Merseyside this summer.

This possible deal is though being claimed to be a purely speculation at the moment by other media with no concrete talks yet taking place between the clubs or with the player.

Although, the Toffees’ certainly need midfield reinforcements and greater creativity, I have reservations about Barkley returning, even if it isn’t as yet looking likely.

When he first emerged from the Blues’ youth system he was hailed as a genuine talent with the potential to become a top class footballer.

Of course, we’ve all heard this many times over the last twenty years or so with a succession of Everton youngsters such as Francis Jeffers, Micheal Ball, Wayne Rooney and Jack Rodwell.

In truth, despite their obvious ability none of these players (apart from Rooney of course) really fulfilled their potential and their careers ultimately pettered out.

The same sort of thing has happened to Barkley. He showed flashes of real talent and had his moments in a royal blue shirt but due to a combination of off and on-field issues together with a sometimes difficult relationship with some sections of the supporters, he never found consistency or managed to secure a regular place in the side.

Partly, this was a result of constant upheaval with new managers and players arriving and a lack of settled teams, coaching staffs and tactics, all of which probably didn’t help his development.

Eventually, he moved on to Chelsea for what many Evertonians felt, given his age and ability, was a derisory fee of around £13 million.

Since going to Stamford Bridge, he hasn’t been able to consistently impress his Chelsea managers either (which included Frank Lampard) during his spell in West London and has been loaned out regularly.

While Barkely has undoubted gifts and could add some much-needed additional creative ability and drive in midfield, I’m not sure his returning to Everton is a good move.

I can’t really think of any player or manager who has returned to the Toffees’ and done as well or better than he did in his first spell at the club. It doesn’t even seem to happen.

And so, I would be reluctant to see him come back and I think it would be best for the player and the club if the Blues’ looked at alternatives.