At one stage, Merseyside-born midfielder Ross Barkley was labelled one of Europe’s leading younger players and was tipped to make it to the top. After coming through at hometown club, Everton, he finally began to show his quality, which earned him a move to Chelsea. His time at Stamford Bridge didn’t go to plan, and after departing to join Nice in Ligue 1 last summer, it looks like the thirty-three-time England cap could make a return home to reignite his career.
Barkley, 29, is certainly a footballer who, even though he is heading towards the latter stages of his career, still has a lot to offer. The midfielder, who you could suggest has never lived up to expectations, has proven himself in English football, but it’s not the Premier League where he’s currently set to return, but rather the Championship, with Middlesbrough, managed by former England and Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, said to be hot on his trail. After taking over from Chris Wilder, with Middlesbrough well off the pace at the time, Carrick managed to guide his current employers to the Championship playoffs, where they lost to Coventry over two legs in the semi-finals. Their exploits last term will naturally see them as one of the heavy favourites where Championship match betting is concerned, but Barkey’s arrival could yet improve Middlesbrough’s chances of success further, with the club aiming to make their return to the Premier League sooner rather than later.
Something that goes in both Boro and Barkey’s favour is that the latter is available on a free transfer. On making the switch to Nice, Barkley only signed an initial twelve-month deal, and a parting of ways between the French outfit and the midfielder has already been agreed. A move to Teeside could be tempting because there’s the opportunity to work with Carrick and play in a team that approached games on the front foot, scoring plenty of goals in the process.
Barkley, who could have other suitors, especially in the Premier League, would surely only be interested in heading to English football’s second tier if Middlesbrough were going to be ambitious. So, keeping hold of the Championship Golden Boot winner, Chuba Akpom, could be key. If Barkley was to see Boro’s star man head for the exit, he might not be as convinced by the project.
Newly promoted teams such as Luton and Sheffield United would more than welcome Barkley’s quality and Premier League experience if the opportunity to do so arose and if the former Everton’s man wage demand were in line with what they could offer. And the same could and undoubtedly will apply to more top-flight outfits, but after Middlesbrough seemingly made the first move and showed intent, they currently lead the race.
It remains to be seen if the creative midfielder would be willing to play in the Championship, especially as he is likely to have plenty of offers available to him as one of the transfer window’s more interesting free agents.
