Tottenham Hotspur have been heavily linked with Everton’s Ross Barkley, but perhaps his performance in the Merseyside derby should act as a warning.
Everton’s Ross Barkley fouls Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren
A recent report in the Daily Mail has suggested that Tottenham were leading the chase for Ross Barkley with Mauricio Pochettino deciding to ignore his previous doubts regarding the Everton man.
The Mail reported that Spurs were not convinced about Barkley’s decision making but had been impressed by the improvement he has made under Ronald Koeman.
Barkley is undoubtedly one of the most naturally talented players England have at their disposal currently, but his display in the Merseyside derby may suggest that a move for the Toffees star may not be the brightest idea, especially if a big fee is involved.
The 23-year-old was arguably very lucky not to be sent off against Liverpool – and it could perhaps be argued that he may have been had the game not been a derby that needed management from the referee – following a string of poorly timed first-half tackles.
That aggression can be a positive thing, but having also committed a similarly nasty challenge in the previous meeting against the Reds, there should surely be questions about Barkley’s temperament on the big occasion.
Liverpool’s Emre Can in action with Everton’s Ross Barkley
And with Tottenham trying to establish themselves as a more of a force both domestically and on the continent, a greater number of their games could be labelled as being big occasions with high stakes, and thus, Barkley may need to prove that he can avoid crossing the line when the pressure is on for a move to not be considered a gamble.
Though Dele Alli has also been guilty of not using his aggression wisely at times in the past, he has arguably been a lot more consistent when it comes to goals and assists in the Premier League so can often be forgiven the odd mistake.
Of course, Barkley would prove to be an excellent addition if Tottenham made a move and he was able to stay in control in some of his challenges as his ability on the ball can be scarcely-believable at times, but how he reacts in pressurised situations should arguably be something that Pochettino considers monitoring before he commits to targeting a big-money move.
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