Ross Barkley’s place at Chelsea is as unclear as ever

Ross Barkley has never truly had a clear place at Chelsea and the upcoming summer has shed no further light on his current position in the hierarchy.

Barkley has played in 20 matches this season but has only played about 1125 minutes. Though not much altogether, those 20 matches have shown the full range of Barkley performances. Some were terrible, some were confusing yet acceptable, and most recently, some have been absolutely outstanding.

But with Chelsea progressing through a youth revolution and entering a seemingly large rebuilding summer, Barkley’s overall place in the hierarchy is unclear. He sits in a very awkward spot overall.

First of all, simply look at the players he is competing for minutes against. Regardless of whether it is a 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, or 3-4-3, Barkley is one of a group that includes Jorginho, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Billy Gilmour, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Of those six, he has only played more minutes that Gilmour and Loftus-Cheek though that could change soon.

So, Barkley being one of seven fighting for (at most) three positions is less than ideal. Even if he is accounted for as a winger (as much as anyone is a winger under Frank Lampard), that is another four he is fighting against for two spots. That brings the total count to 11 players in five playing spots. Overall, it simply looks like poor calculus for Barkley.

That is not to even mention the potential of Chelsea bringing in more midfielders. The Blues do not necessarily need anyone for the spot, but overall it looks as though Barkley is the oddest man out given his age and talent.

Talent, however, is where Chelsea will get tripped up on Barkley. At times he struggles to do much of anything. Then the next game he can turn up and look like the best English player in the world. If he is the odd man out in a crowded squad, he would easily bring in a decent transfer fee. But on the other hand, at times he is too good to let go. On the same notion, he is also not really good enough often enough to command his own spot.

So he exists in that awkward space of being good enough to hold on to but not good enough to justify holding on to. That leaves Chelsea in a tight spot if a good deal comes in and a decision has to be made.

Things would be different if the Blues were clear they were not bringing in any other midfielders or Loftus-Cheek’s recovery to the player he was becomes further delayed. Then Barkley could convincingly provide depth and the decision over what to do could be pushed to a later date.

There simply is no clear path or decision to be made about Barkley. If he continues to play as he did before the break, then it will be much easier to justify a place for him. But if he does not, or his playing time stays low, then the Blues will need to ask themselves why they are holding on.

Neither decision is necessarily right as there is just so much unknown about Barkley even this far into his Chelsea career. The Blues, and the player himself, will need to figure it out whenever play resumes.