Ross Barkley

[1.618034]

Rooney cost the rags £25.6M 12 years ago. To expect to pay the same price now for a similar "prospect" is a great initial bargaining position, but it's almost ludicrous to expect a deal at a similar fee in today's market.

If we get him for less than Sergio at £38M then that'll be decent business IMO.

He has a "premium" because he's English, but that's just a fact of English football life.

I rate him and hope we can get him. As for the fee I'll let the club worry about that.

 

[LoveCity]

£40m-£50m is what you should be paying for Koke or Pogba, young players who have already proven their class in the Champions League and in title chasing teams, who are already renowned across Europe for their achievements at a young age. Barkley still falls under the category of prospect rather than a young player actually dominating and being a leading figure in a team - he doesn't even start every game for Everton, hardly scores and rarely assists. Actually, Sterling is more worthy of that price tag because of how he helped Liverpool come so close to winning the league + scores and assists more than Barkley. There's a lot of running and skill from Barkley but not actually much else yet. Honestly, screw this English premium and if teams demand it we should let it motivate us to produce our own £40m English/homegrown youngsters.

 

[bitsmith]

He might be a top player at some time but honestly, I think there are more important players to buy at this time. Koke would cost a similar money, is not much older and is finished product already.

 

[Bluemanc100]

We sold him after getting relegated and him losing form?

thats my point..Barkley will cost us a hell of a lot more than 15/20 Mill

I think we may be confused with each other's points.

My point is that it is a very different situation. We hadn't just gone down and SWP was still playing well. Those two things alone will put Everton in a poor negotiation position (if it happens).

SWP left on the day we played Macc pre-season

He left in full kit and looked gutted

 

[Nightmare Walking]

In a world where we have just paid 32 million (a price that will be justified long term imo) for Mangala, there is no way we will be paying less than that for Barkley.

 

[MeatHunterrr]

£40m-£50m is what you should be paying for Koke or Pogba, young players who have already proven their class in the Champions League and in title chasing teams, who are already renowned across Europe for their achievements at a young age. Barkley still falls under the category of prospect rather than a young player actually dominating and being a leading figure in a team - he doesn't even start every game for Everton, hardly scores and rarely assists. Actually, Sterling is more worthy of that price tag because of how he helped Liverpool come so close to winning the league + scores and assists more than Barkley. There's a lot of running and skill from Barkley but not actually much else yet. Honestly, screw this English premium and if teams demand it we should let it motivate us to produce our own £40m English/homegrown youngsters.

Agree. £40m-£50m is world class player money, not potential. Huge gamble at £40m, £30m at very maximum even that would be top whack.

 

[robertsuki]

The reported 45 Million is a ludicrous amount of money for a, as of yet, unproven player that so far this season after serious injury has been at best average. I agree with other posts that kind of money would be far better spent on the likes of Pogba, Koke,etc. As for the reported 130k weekly salary, well I am lost for words.
Apart from the fact that he's English ( which is important ) Barkley will not bring to the table the kind of player we need in the next few years. Especially when Yaya moves on we will require a midfielder with ball retention that can dictate the game. Alternatively we need an energetic playmaker with an eye for goal.
Including the premium of being English I would have thought that 25M is max with possible future add ons. Otherwise it's bringing through our own talented kids to solve the nationality problem.

 

[Dubai Blue]

If Barkley wasn't English, very few of us would have even heard of him. That's how little impact he's had on the footballing world in real terms.

Talk of anything over 30m is ludicrous and a risk that I wouldn't want to see City taking in these times of FFP bollocks. The rags can afford to take a wild punt on potential at 45m+; I'm not sure we can.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Surely, even if the fee was in the region of £40/45mil, it would be structured and weighted on certain parameters being met - maybe a £25mil downpayment with the rest based on appearances, goals etc.

 

[bobmcfc]

With Rooney it was guaranteed. This lad has so much more to prove so Id say Rammys suggestion of a flat fee of 25m then everything else on performance such as goals/assists. Not nesessarily on appearances because that doesn't always gauge ability. We have to protect ourselves from overspending because we are governed by FFP now and can't just throw money around anymore. Reason and measure is the way we play from now on