Potential Ross Barkley transfer might be dying on the vine

There’s an episode of the 90s sitcom Seinfeld where a character named George decides that he is going to march out of his office and quit his job. After carrying out his plan, he comes to the stunning realization that he in fact needs this job, and now he’s in a predicament. So George comes up with a very simple plan - he’s going to simply show up the next day and act like nothing ever happened. Let’s see how that went for him:

Ross Barkley decided he was ready for the SHOW. Champions League, bright lights, the world’s biggest clubs...and it turns out no one thinks he’s actually worth very much.

This was already a problem before Barkley injured his hamstring, and now reports are coming out that his injury has made him even less desirable. Tottenham, fresh off multiple profitable sales this summer, do not think it’s worth pulling the trigger only to be without the midfielder.

Chelsea’s interest has dried up, too, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain reportedly the lead target that the defending champions want in their side, leaving no space for the English international from Everton.

Oh, and about that “English international” part. Barkley has not been a part of the Three Lions since May of 2016. With his injury and the depth added by Everton, it seems unlikely that Ross is going to get the game time he needs on the club level to earn his way into next summer’s World Cup.

People take risks all the time. When those risks are wise and calculated, they can pay off and make a person’s career. Ross setting his bridges at Everton ablaze was not a calculated risk - it was brazen arrogance and it is coming home to roost for him.

Ross Barkley might be a great depth piece for this current Everton side. There are certainly minutes for him to have. However, he needs to take a dose of humility and start putting in the work to finally become the player we all thought he was going to be, and who he apparently already thinks he is. Barkley’s injury situation seems to have left him showing back up in the office trying to act like nothing happened.