Tottenham Hotspur have been strongly linked with England international midfielder Ross Barkley in the winter transfer window. The latest reports indicate that manager Mauricio Pochettino has told the club hierarchy to finalise a deal for the midfielder. (The Gambling Times)
The attacking midfielder has already made up his mind to leave Everton and had it not been for the injury, he would have already made it out of Everton in the summer.
His current contract with the Toffees ends at the end of this season but Everton are reportedly keen on selling him for £20million. The attacking midfielder is willing to join Tottenham and work with Pochettino but Spurs are not willing to match that valuation.
I don’t see any reason as to why we should because signing a player who has less than six months on his contract and is currently on the treatment table for £20million is like paying £100million when he is fit and playing on a long-term contract!
Though Everton manager Sam Allardyce has recently told the media that the 24-year-old will be back in action soon, I see that as a ploy to increase his transfer fee, ahead of the transfer window. Even if he comes back to action, it would take some time before he finds his feet and gets going. There is no doubt that he is a good player with huge potential but getting back to his best after a long injury lay-off will be difficult.
Should Tottenham sign Barkley? No matter what the critics say, he is still a good signing for the club. Though the valuations are not logical and practical, if Pochettino feels that he needs the midfielder then the club should go for his signature.
The best Pochettino can do is to convince the club chairman Daniel Levy of the need to sign Barkley and let him at least negotiate with Everton. For all we know, the Toffees may be playing bluff with the valuations or trying to see if our interest is genuine.
What do you think? Should we go for Barkley?
