Tottenham have cooled their interest in signing Ross Barkley this summer, according to The Mirror.
Barkley rejected a new contract offer from Everton at the end of last season and is expected to move on in the coming weeks.
Spurs had reportedly been in pole position to sign Barkley, but The Mirror claims the club has “growing reservations” about the midfielder.
The report suggests Tottenham simply don’t think Barkley is worth buying given the strength they already have in the attacking midfield positions.
I’m inclined to agree. Although I think Barkley could be a star under Mauricio Pochettino’s management, there’s a big chance he would struggle for game-time if Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen stay fit.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Spurs reignite their interest in the 23-year-old later in the transfer window. If Barkley hasn’t found a new club by then, perhaps Daniel Levy could negotiate a deal on the cheap.
I hope that Levy is looking to do a deal – £50M is way too much for someone with 1 year left. Everton have bought a replacement in Klasseen, so Barkley is surplus to requirements there.
I think he could play alongside Wanyama further back in midfield as a replacement for Dembele, who is great, but injury prone. The first choice 3 spots behind Kane would be Eriksen, Alli and hopefully Lemur, Son and Lamela are not fit enough to start the season, so we do need to get a decent wide man.
TBH we have a lot we can get rid of – Walker, Wimmer, Fazio, Bentelab, N`Jie, Nkdouku, Sissoko, Janssen
And bring in Barkley, Lemur, Sessenyoung, King and Ben Gibson
I would actually like to see Barkley come in as a back up/alternative to Dembele. Think he would allow us to play a 4-1-2-3 combining with Alli to effectively make a front 5 in possession and dropping back with Wanyama to create a back 4 out of possession. Barkley is very direct and creative in his style of play snd I think sometimes that is what we could miss at times in the box to box role.
Dembele is awesome at commanding the midfield but it is always his intention to drop back back next to Wanyama and is very cautious moving forward despite his phenomenal abilities. Barkley and Alli moving forward from midfield like A Xavi/Iniesta type set up with any 3 of Kane, Son, Eriksen or Lamela would be potent attack and I think Poch and Dembele could teach him how to boss the area effectively.
Not worth 50 on form to date and least of all with only a year left on his contract but I’d love to see him at Spurs.