Squeezing Chelsea for every penny: Everton are set to have the last laugh

Youthful + English = Inflated Prices

Usually the equation for players in the top seven Premier League clubs. And, even though it shouldn’t, this trend looks set to continue with Everton’s Ross Barkley.

Chelsea have tabled a £25m bid for Everton wantaway midfielder Ross Barkley. (Source: Telegraph) pic.twitter.com/0fNEmMUmn5

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 29, 2017

The Toffees have reportedly rejected the figure for a player who has proved so little in six seasons of top flight football, but Everton could still sell the Englishman for an improved offer because of Chelsea’s desperation for players.

The late window means Chelsea will likely increase their initial offer, coupled with the recent failed attempt at signing fellow Englishman Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain due to the Gunners’ man adamance on not playing out wide.

But, is Barkley really worth more than £25 million?! Inflated prices and Everton fans may say so. But, the bottom line is the 23-year-old has failed to progress as a player since promising so much in 2011.

In 150 Premier League games, the Evertonian has registered just 21 league goals, and regularly fails to make the percentages count in the final third. Too often the final ball is the wrong one; too often Barkley is the man to break up play:

“If I was playing with him, I would be falling out with him. He runs with it when he should pass it, he passes it when he should run with it. His decision making is poor in the extreme.”

— Graeme Souness

If you compare Barkley’s career path to fellow Toffee, Tom Davies, there is a noticeable contrast in improvement and maturity. Davies, four years junior to Barkley, already looks more adapt to playing Premier League football and has made *that* stand out performance in his Man of the Match display last season when Everton dismantled Manchester City 4-0.

Barkley is still yet to deliver a performance of such quality; failed to hold down the No.10 jersey in a team which has not boasted outstanding personnel in this area for the last few seasons.

If Everton are to get over £30 million for the player, it will only add to what has been a brilliant window for Ronald Koeman on Merseyside; the Dutchman is probably licking his lips at Mr Abramovich getting his chequebook out.