Tottenham did not move for Everton’s Ross Barkley on deadline day and that was the right decision.
Ross Barkley celebrates as Ben Mee of Burnley (not pictured) scored a own goal for Everton’s second.
As transfer deadline day came and went Ross Barkley remained an Everton player, despite months of speculation about where he would go after turning down a new contract at Goodison Park – as outlined by the Mirror.
Barkley came close to leaving, with the Evening Standard reporting he actually got as far as having a medical with Chelsea ahead of a £35m transfer, before changing his mind midway through to return to Merseyside.
Ross Barkley of Everton battles for the ball with Havard Nordtveit, Andre Ayew and Arthur Masuaku of West Ham United.
Noticeable by their absence among the confusion of where the midfielder would go, if anywhere, were Tottenham Hotspur; who according to the Metro, among others, were the favourites to sign the 23-year-old.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy receives plenty of criticism for the way he handles incoming signings, often taking negotiations right to the wire to ensure the best possible deal. Which of course also runs the risk of missing out altogether.
Yet that wasn’t the case this time, with Tottenham calmly stepping back and allowing their West London rivals to endure the chaos of trying to push through a last minute buy.
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy.
It was the correct decision from Levy, too. Barkley is currently injured with a hamstring tear and according to the Telegraph, isn’t expected to play for the next three months – so how he would have passed a medical in any case remains a mystery.
Plus the England international is now into the final year of his current contract with the Toffees, meaning the North Londoners can revisit the deal in January and potentially sign him for a lot less. Less panic and more considered thinking was the course of action – an unusual but refreshing stance on deadline day.
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