Tottenham Hotspur choosing Everton’s Ross Barkley over Andre Gomes should be no-brainer

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Barcelona flop Andre Gomes and Everton play-maker Ross Barkley were both transfer targets for Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

It is fair to say neither Andre Gomes nor Ross Barkley will look back on the 2016/17 season with two much fondness.

Gomes swapped Valencia for Barcelona in a big-money deal last summer but spent the season enduring almost relentless criticism of his performances which, admittedly, were far below the level required at a club who have sampled the delights of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Gaizka Mendietta and Deco since the turn of the century.

Everton’s Barkley, meanwhile, started the campaign on the bench with Ronald Koeman replacing Roberto Martinez’s carrot with a sharp stick. Despite a smattering of bright performances, however, injuries and speculation surrounding his future at Goodison meant the season ended on a negative note.

However, while both missed out on moves to Tottenham this summer, it appears one is almost certain to arrive eventually.

One or the other?

According to The Express, Barkley will finally move to North London on a cut-price deal in January, when he will have just six months remaining on his Everton contract.

And, despite stagnating in recent years, Barkley will surely prove a far better addition at Tottenham than Portuguese Euro 2016 winner Gomes, who was blocked from moving to England after Barca finally admitted defeat over Philippe Coutinho, as reported by The Mail.

In fact, it is difficult to think of two more different attacking midfielders. Barkley is a perfect fit for Mauricio Pochettino’s high-intensity style, providing he recaptures the dazzling form of 2013/14 that saw many label him Paul Gascoigne’s modern-day heir.

Gomes, meanwhile, left Barca fans frustrated last season with an apparent unwillingness to take risks and a tendency to slow down the attack. Then again, this is possible due to a lack of confidence. Being criticised for an entire calendar year will do that.

Barkley scored five goals and created another eight in supposedly his most disappointing Everton season while Gomes scored three and created one in the same timescale.

Both would cost around the same price, both play in the same position and are only separated by eight months in age. However, it is clear that Barkley, rather than Gomes, is the man Spurs need.