'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 Ross Barkley (Chelsea)
Chelsea signed Ross Barkley from Everton in the January transfer window. After his arrival in West London, Barkley couldn’t find his feet and was consigned to the bench more often than not. A string of injuries didn’t help his case either.
However, with a new season and a new manager in wait, this could be the season Barkley starts turning heads with his performances again. Barkley was a wonderful prospect at Everton and his precocious talent had an admirer in Gary Linekar. He was viewed as one from the next generation of English football, who are better technically and can add more flair to the ‘beautiful game’.
Unfortunately, things haven’t panned out the way Barkley would have hoped for. He suffered numerous injuries and hasn’t been able to deliver on his initial promise. Last season, he refused to commit to Everton and this left the door open for his move to Stamford Bridge.
Barkley is not the most defensive-minded midfielder and hence was out of favour with Conte. With the arrival of Maurizio Sarri, things could be about to change. Though he still needs to continue improving the defensive aspect of his game, Sarri’s preference for playing box-to-box midfielders is a blessing for Ross.
Sarri would want to use Barkley in a role similar to Hamsik at Napoli. He would be tasked with making those late darts into the box to throw the opposition defence out of gear. With Alonso playing high and wide on the left side and Hazard always inclined to cut inside, Barkley will have the space to run into. Thus, Sarri would hope Barkley can bring back his ‘A-game’ and wreak havoc from the midfield.
Despite going off the radar for the past few years, this season seems the perfect opportunity for Barkley to launch himself back into contention for the English national side. If he can turn the clock back four years and come up with similar performances, Chelsea could become a team hard to stop.
