Transfer Story
After having refused to sign the contract within the given deadline by the club officials, Ross Barkley’s departure from Goodison Park seems to be more and more imminent. The star midfielder is being linked with a move to West Ham United with Slaven Bilic being primarily interested in the youngster.
The 23-year-old has only 1 year left on his contract with the Toffees and the club does not want to lose the player as a free agent next summer and would be looking forward to cash in on the youngster.
The apparent transfer fee has been set at around £50m and Bilic would have to break all transfer records of the Hammers to go in full pursuit of the talisman.
The star midfielder has been on the radar of many big clubs for some time now and has developed gradually under the able guidance of Koeman into a complete midfielder.
Barkley, 23, has established himself as a key figure in the heart of midfield for Everton and being a local lad his transfer rumours are sure to break a thousand hearts.
Let us look at the attributes of the talisman and discuss the potential that he would bring to any club.
Ross Barkley – Player Stats
The 23-year-old has been more or less a permanent figure in the midfield for Toffees and has shown ample qualities to make him a star recruit in any team.
- The young talisman has made 36 appearances for his club in the League scoring 5 goals and 8 assists in the process. Not bad for a midfielder it seems, eh!
- Towering at 6’2″, the player is tough to beat in aerial duels and is also quite impressive with his ball control and creativity up front. He has been the engine, rather, the driving force of Everton providing the extra bit of flair whenever the team required it from him.
- The player’s pass success rate of 83% and a massive contribution of 84 key passes proves the vision and creativity he brings to the midfield. With the ability to play in attack as well as a holding position in the middle, the Evertonian is as versatile a midfielder as one could get.
- The player’s only drawback is his inability to run back and defend the lost ball, something that besmirches his otherwise spotless resume.
Seeing the traits above it is no doubt that the player has time and skill in his favour to become one of the best talents in the world.
What’ll he bring to the Club?
The English International is not short of quality and skill and might provide Bilic with the added edge and creativity in the middle of the pitch which the team has mostly lacked throughout.
With the youngster’s ability to spot early and chip in the occasional through ball across the heart of the midfield, the Hammers might be able to break out from the deadlock of mediocrity that they have been plagued with throughout the season.
Bilic is apparently looking for a major re-shuffle in his squad and Barkley is one of the primary targets on his list of must-haves.
Worth the Money?
Of course, the youngster is worth the moolah having already proven his ability in the top tier of English football at such an early age. But the main point lies in the fact that whether the Everton man, himself, would want to join the Hammers or not.
Although it is reported that Bilic is ready to meet the Englishman’s wage demands and clubs transfer fee, still, the deal does seem to be highly unlikely as Barkley’s primary reason for leaving Goodison Park is to play in the Champions League. A feat which the current Hammers team are far from achieving.
This is a transfer that Bilic would love to complete and if he does so, the whole media world, fans and pundits alike are all in for a shock.
