From Merseyside To London? – Why West Ham United Should Make A Move For Everton’s Ross Barkley
West Ham United had a season to forget last time around as they failed to capitalise on their qualification for European football, failing to even finish in the top half of the table. But Slaven Bilic is determined to improve the squad and will want the best players at the club, to make sure that they can compete with the best in England next season.
They have already made a sublime signing in getting Javier Hernandez from Bayer Leverkusen but having lost their talisman in Dimitri Payet halfway through the previous season, they are yet to find a creative force that can help them take the next step.
They have been looking at some interesting names recently but one player they should definitely give a look at is Everton want-away, Ross Barkley. Having rejected a contract extension with the Merseyside outfit, the 23-year is now ‘100% expected to quit’ the club this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur are showing prolonged interest in the player but are not ready to meet his valuation of £50m and reports from the Express claim that West Ham United are now ready to lure him to the London Stadium, offering him a humungous pay rise on his current contract at the Goodison Park.
At £50m, the Hammers will want to buy an established star who can shoulder the responsibilities of the attacking half of the game. Though Barkley is not in that bracket yet, he is not too far away.
Known for his aggressive approach and lack of concentration, Barkley is a gifted and a smart player, who has exemplary vision on a football field. Strong and sturdy, the 22-times capped English international scored just 8 goals and 5 assists in 32 starts last season, which does not make for a great showing. But his potential is far higher than those numbers.
He has failed to live up to the expectation at the Goodison Park on a regular basis but at the London Stadium, he will have more freedom to express himself. With Manuel Lanzini, the only player who can compete with him in this role, Barkley can regain some lost confidence and find some form to help himself get into the England squad for the World Cup next year.
At Everton, the lack of progress is not good for his future and though he may not be able to win much with the Hammers, he may at least be able to establish himself as high as his potential can take him. At 23, he has enough time to move back to a top club so at the moment, moving to West Ham will be the best decision for the talented Englishman and the same applies to West Ham too.
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