Mauricio Pochettino wants to convert Ross Barkley in to a central midfielder if he joins Tottenham, according to The Times.
Ronald Koeman has confirmed Barkley will almost certainly leave Everton by the end of the transfer window with the player “seeking a new challenge”.
Barkley has been primarily used in an advanced role over the last couple of years at Goodison Park.
But it is believed Pochettino would deploy Barkley in a deeper role, seeing him as a long-term replacement for Mousa Dembele.
The Times claims Pochettino fears Dembele “will struggle to play at the highest level beyond his early thirties.”
Despite his forward-thinking role at Everton, Barkley is often seen coming deep to collect the ball and start attacks.
He has played in a deeper midfield role before, so the adjustment shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are also thought to be monitoring Barkley.
Spurs fans will be hopeful the 23-year-old has kept one eye on the development of other English players under the management of Pochettino.
HARRY WINKS is our future – Barkley is thick , not a hard worker and doesnt have the talent to go to the very top.
Why spend money on him he is no better than we have Harry winks is the future give him a go peter lathbury
If Poch wants him then I’ll go with the flow, and ignore these thicko comments.
Hopefully he will be another one from the long list of players we are linked to that come to nothing.100% we do not need him at any price.We need an extra striker and made a bad mistake in not going for Rodriguez or Hernandez,players just down Levy’s street.
Talk is cheap .Sign the guy Levy. He will be star at spurs.