Ross Barkley dropping out of Chelsea and England XIs could force a move

Ross Barkley has struggled more minutes at Chelsea this season. That is expanding to the English national team and it could force the player to move.

There are many reasons why players want to play for their national team. The sense of pride of representing one’s nation. The competition of playing the best of the best. And the very simple showcase of ability to potential employers.

It is hard to know exactly where Ross Barkley fits but it is very likely he would rather be playing than not, just like every other professional player. Barkley’s playing time for his club has been limited this season, but he always had the national team and Gareth Southgate’s trust.

Until now it seems. Mason Mount is due for an England start over Barkley. And if Barkley does not even have international football anymore, he may start to reconsider his current club situation in order to find the field once more.

Chelsea admired Barkley from a distance for some time. He was seen as a future English start to build the squad around. Chelsea’s desire was undeterred when Barkley turned down the Blues at the eleventh hour in the summer of 2017. Despite being injured the entire time in between, the Blues still went after Barkley in the winter of 2018. They got their man at a cut rate price that seemingly had no downsides.

Barkley was never able to find full fitness under Antonio Conte. He was in and out of Maurizio Sarri’s side as Mateo Kovacic and later Ruben Loftus-Cheek pulled ahead of him in the pecking order. And while Frank Lampard gave him an honest look, Mason Mount pulled ahead in the pecking order in addition to Kovacic. Loftus-Cheek’s imminent return will also further block Barkley’s pathway.

Barkley remained a key part of the English national team during all of this and even did quite well without the burden of heavy tactical instruction found at clubs. But Mount’s rise for club is leading to a rise for country and that is leaving Barkley on the outside looking in at all his situations.

Barkley will surely start to see the writing on the wall when Loftus-Cheek returns. And without the national team to offer a relief, Barkley will need to move on from Chelsea if he wants to see the pitch. This will only be heightened with the Euros just around the corner.

Chelsea, for their part, will find it hard to come out on the wrong end of the Barkley deal. While he never really reached the heights he was capable of, his price was so low that it would be nearly impossible to not make a profit on the transfer. Barkley would have suitors in midtable and he would likely go there and do well for himself again. And the Blues would still have plenty of numbers in midfield to cope with the loss.

The numbers are simply not working in Barkley’s favor anymore. With Loftus-Cheek returning, Barkley will see his club playing time drop further. With Mount usurping him in the national team, he will not even have that relief. Barkley’s only option will be to consider his club future if he wants to make the Euros squad and beyond.