Osman is not convinced a move to Tottenham Hotspur would be good for his former Everton teammate.
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman suspects Manchester United would be interested in Ross Barkley.
Barkley has failed to respond to Everton’s £100,000-a-week contract offer [the Mirror, 23 May, back page] and looks set to leave his boyhood club with little more than a year to run on his existing deal.
Tottenham Hotspur have been strongly linked with a move for the 23-year-old, along with north London rivals Arsenal.
However, United could be a good fit, according to Osman.
Asked where his old teammate could end up, the 36-year-old told Talksport: “I think there’s been a lot of talk about Tottenham Hotspur and him going down there. I’m not too sure. I think they’ve got a fantastic team, and they will have more games but will he be first name on the team sheet?
Everton midfielder Ross Barkley
“I think someone like Man United might want him. There’s not much talk about that but Jose Mourinho likes his physical players, he likes everyone in his team [to be] powerful and big, and Ross Barkley certainly fits that bill.”
It appears as though Everton have already turned their attention to securing a replacement for Barkley, with both the Mirror and Times reporting that a £25 million fee has been agreed with Swansea City for playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson
Sigurdsson – a former Tottenham player – outscored Barkley by nine goals to five this past Premier League campaign, and created eight assists to the Englishman’s nine, albeit having played two games more.
Would Manchester United or Tottenham be the best fit for Everton’s Barkley?
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