Why Everton should have sealed shock Ross Barkley transfer during summer window

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Everton endured a summer of little spending, but still added in key areas.

After all, Kevin Thelwell and Sean Dyche could not allow that squad which had only earned survival on the last game of the season to stride into the new campaign untouched.

They were weak, threadbare and severely lacking quality, with only the manager able to tie them together and lead them to safety.

But, with their ongoing financial issues only mounting, perusing the market proved a tough task for the scouting team.

Acquiring Beto on a deferred payment seemingly solved their striking issues, whilst Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma represented intelligent loans to bolster their wide ranks.

However, central midfield was woefully omitted, despite seemingly having the opportunity to welcome Ross Barkley back to Goodison Park for free.

Did Everton nearly sign Ross Barkley?

Having left for Chelsea in 2018 amidst acrimonious circumstances, the 30-year-old’s relationship with the fanbase was notoriously frayed.

However, he has maintained his love for the club, offering brief messages of support on X when the time called.

Spells with the West London outfit, Aston Villa and OGC Nice saw his contract come to an end, and the rumour mill began to turn. However, journalist Paul Brown did suggest that Dyche never wanted the maestro.

He told GIVEMESPORT back in August: ‘If he came back and had a bad game, I think the fans would be right on his back. He would have had a pretty rough ride from them.

‘But the problem was that I just don’t think Sean Dyche wanted Ross Barkley. I don’t think he’s the sort of player that Sean Dyche wants in his team and, for that reason, I never could really see this one happening.’

The £30k-a-week ace instead opted for Luton Town, in a move that left many shocked.

How good has Ross Barkley been this season?

Few thought much of this failed transfer, which ultimately never really felt like a move that would happen.

After all, Barkley had struggled to make his mark at Chelsea, and then disappointed under the far less pressurised atmospheres in Birmingham and France respectively.

However, since taking up a role as the Hatters’ main man in the midfield, he has started to shine.

His 7.13 average rating in the Premier League is indicative of this, as a figure buoyed by his three goal contributions and unrelenting creativity paired with a fine work rate. Andros Townsend, another former blue and new teammate of Barkley’s, has even branded his recent performances as a ‘joy to watch‘.

After all, his 1.2 key passes per game are partnered with an 83% pass accuracy, and yet he also is managing 1.5 tackles and a whopping 7.1 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.

For comparison, aside from his pass accuracy and tackling, these are statistics that all outperform that of Amadou Onana, who has been the subject of widespread interest in recent months.

Perhaps the club might have offset their financial issues, avoided two alleged breaches and enjoyed a midfield upgrade, had Dyche just taken a chance on Barkley.