According to reports from The Times, Everton want a £50million transfer fee for Ross Barkley if he decides not to sign a new contract.
What’s the word?
Last month, Ronald Koeman imposed a deadline of until the end of the season for Barkley to decide whether his future lays at Goodison Park or somewhere else, with his Toffees contract due to expire at the end of 2017/18 – meaning the club either cash in this summer or face losing one of their most valuable players on a free transfer.
Updating on the situation, The Times claim Everton want £50million should Barkley choose to leave, a virtually unprecedented sum for a player in the final year of their contract even considering the premium placed on Premier League-proven players and England internationals – two categories the attacking midfielder falls into.
They mention Tottenham Hotspur as potential summer suitors and such claims are nothing new. London Evening Standard, for example, reported on their long-standing interest in Barkley before the turn of 2017.
Would Spurs pay that much?
If Tottenham are to take their title-chasing side to the next level, they will have to break the bank a bit this summer, in terms of both transfer fees and wages. Likewise, although Barkley has divided opinion at times throughout his Everton career, he suits the way Tottenham like to play, whilst perhaps giving them something a little different in terms of taking on defenders and unlocking the opposition with the ball.
That being said, £50million is a rather staggering sum, especially considering the 23-year-old’s contract situation. It would set a new record fee at White Hart Lane and seemingly move the club down a completely different direction in the transfer market in comparison to how Daniel Levy has conducted the club’s business in recent summers, when they’ve largely targeted modestly-priced deals with the potential for big future profits.
Barkley’s certainly a talented player, but is he really worth Spurs foregoing some of their recent principles – the same principles that have transformed them from top-four pushers into title contenders? We’re not convinced.