Why Ross Barkley's rise will give David Moyes a headache

By David Anderson

Published 11:28 17/10/11

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It seems not a week goes by without a new club being linked with a move for Ross Barkley.

It's not hard to understand why and even though he is just 17, he is already regarded as one of the hottest young talents in the Premier League.

He has looked incredibly assured in his first few games for Everton, showing great composure and ability.

I know Evertonians will baulk at this comparison, but he has Steven Gerrard's dynamism and looks like he ticks every box to be a great player.

Stuart Pearce has already promoted the midfielder to his England Under-21 side and has handed him his first full cap.

Yet the faster Barkley's career rises, the more the interest grows in him.

And that's where it gets tricky for David Moyes.

On the one hand, flogging Barkley for £30-odd-million next summer would solve a lot of Everton's problems.

It would make a sizeable dent in the Blues' debts and maybe give Moyes a bit of cash to reinvest.

However such a short-term move would cause uproar among Evertonians.

They have had to watch Wayne Rooney blossom at Manchester United because the club could not hold on to him and it would wound them deeply to wave goodbye to Barkley also.

With Everton so indebted, their only chance of progressing is to develop their own talent like Barkley.

Cashing in on him when so much of his potential is unrealised would be wrong for Everton.

Moyes deserves the chance to polish further this gem of a player and the club should make sure he has that opportunity.

I would sell Jack Rodwell ahead of Barkley and Everton must do everything they can to hang on to him.

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