Hotspur HQ
Fansided

Tottenham can’t make same mistake twice

By Ryan Wrenn

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur (L) is put under pressure from David Silva of Manchester City (R) during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at White Hart Lane on October 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur (L) is put under pressure from David Silva of Manchester City (R) during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at White Hart Lane on October 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The longer the saga surrounding Ross Barkley and his long-rumored move to Tottenham simmers, the more likely it is that it actually comes to pass.

Tottenham are currently the only team ostensibly interested in the player who might be able to afford what Everton is asking for him.

Which means that, even if Spurs aren’t interested now, Barkley will still be available come August 31st. Should the opening games of the season not go as planned or if other potential signings fizzle out, Daniel Levy might once again get desperate in the final hours of the window.

Listing off the reasons why this would be a bad move for Spurs is too easy — plus we have done it at least twice before here on HotspurHQ.

Suffice it to say that Barkley favors a position — attacking midfield — in which Spurs are already amply stocked, and might not actually meet Mauricio Pochettino’s standards regardless.

More from Tottenham Transfer Rumours

Yes, he is young and on occasion lives up to his considerable hype. For the price Everton is demanding however — not to mention the murmurs that he wants to be the highest paid player at the club — it is beyond clear that Spurs have no business caving in on Barkley.

Beyond the frankly ludicrous money, just who would Pochettino dislodge in the current starting XI to make room for Spurs’ new record signing? Is Barkley so good that he could justify dropping one of Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen or Heung-min Son?

Which roughly corresponds with the thought process many assumed the club held in the waning hours of last summer’s transfer window in regard to Moussa Sissoko. Yet, come midnight, the French international was the most expensive signing in Tottenham’s history.

Surely, you might protest, Barkley isn’t nearly as bad as Sissoko? Even before Spurs spent £30 million on the Frenchman, it was clear that he was neither prolific nor bound to improve. It was a desperation move after Levy’s prudence saw other, perhaps more reasonable moves fall through.

Barkley can at least take credit for a fairly exceptional 2015/16 season wherein he scored eight and assisted just as many, while also proving to be a reliable dribbler of the ball in advanced areas. What’s more, he’s just 23 and could conceivably improve in the near future.

Those facts shouldn’t lull anyone at the club into thinking that another splurge on an unnecessary, under-qualified player is what Spurs need this summer. The fact remains that there are plenty of other players still available more deserving of fees approaching £50 million, and who can play in areas of the pitch where Spurs actually need to help.

Next: Expect a much better performance from Tottenham against Juventus

Yet somehow, someway, Barkley is going to continue to linger on the edge of Pochettino and Levy’s consciousness right up through the final day. And it would not at all be surprising to see the Englishman in lilywhites come September 1st.