Chelsea should pursue Romelu Lukaku, not Ross Barkley
The latest reports suggest that Chelsea are considering a blockbuster summer swoop for Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley. The Blues should focus on the former.
Romelu Lukaku excited football fans across the world on Tuesday when it was reported that he would not be signing an Everton contract extension. The Belgian has suitors across Europe, from former employers Chelsea to Barcelona. The Blues now appear keen to sign both Lukaku and Ross Barkley in a mega move, but they would be wise to focus their efforts on securing the former’s signature.
The Telegraph claims that Chelsea are considering a £100 million move for the duo as they seek to take advantage of both players’ contract situation.
"Chelsea are weighing up a summer bid to sign Everton stars Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley in a deal that could be worth up to £100 million.Lukaku has told Everton he will not sign a new contract, while Barkley is yet to extend his deal that will have just 12 months to run at the end of the season."
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While a serious move for Lukaku makes sense, a pursuit of Barkley doesn’t. The Englishman has failed to fulfill his potential so far and looks unlikely to do so.
Despite still being 23 years of age, Barkley has not made enough progress to get rid of bad habits and develop into a more rounded player. He has always possessed significant talent and skill, but his inability to read a game situation is frustrating. The midfielder is incapable of lifting his head when on the ball and he can never find the right pass at the right time.
With Lukaku likely to be valued around the £60 million mark, this would mean paying around £40 million for Barkley. As Chelsea have proven through their N’Golo Kante purchase, there is much better midfield value out there.
Lukaku has shown that he is worth such a sum (taking into account the modern football market). Barkley, meanwhile, has not. Chelsea would be better off paying a slight premium on the striker and then looking elsewhere.
Moreover, the Blues need a marquee midfielder to help them through the season. Ross Barkley is not that man, certainly at that implied price. A fee of such magnitude should be sufficient to land a more proven playmaker, instead of a questionable prospect with only one year left on his contract.
Hopefully, these reports are false and Chelsea aren’t considering a double move. For a club who have worked their way into a healthy financial position, this would be a careless step in the wrong direction.