Everton could offer Ross Barkley in a swap deal for Premier League star
Everton FC have been trying to sign Swansea star Gylfi Siggurdson for the past few weeks with a reported £45m bid rejected for the Icelandic star.
Everton FC have had two bids rejected for the Swansea star Gylfi Sigurdsson and reports state that Swansea boss Paul Clement wants £50m for their attacking midfield talisman.
The BBC and the Guardian have reported these failed bids so these reports are more than likely true.
The 27-year-old had a great season for the Swans after scoring nine goals and making 13 assists.
It’s no secret, also, that Everton FC want to offload Ross Barkley as manager Ronald Koeman deems him not good enough for the Everton midfield. Koeman has had a good transfer window so far after signing the likes of Michael Keane, Davy Klaassen, Wayne Rooney, Sandro and Jordan Pickford along with Cuco Martina.
Everton FC boss admitted that Barkley’s career was over recently after unsuccessful contract negotiations.
Asked if Barkley was on his way out, Koeman replied via The Telegraph:
"“Yes, 100 per cent. I knew this already from the end of last season. “We made a really good offer to him to sign a new contract, he declined that contract and told me that he is looking for a new challenge…“It is really clear. I am looking to other players, that is my priority and not Ross, with all respect because it is his decision.”"
So, with extra funds needed for Sigurdsson, after the Toffees having already spent the money from the Lukaku sale, it makes sense to sell Barkley for Sigurdsson.
Barkley has less than one year remaining on his contract and it seems there’s a lack of real potential suitors for the Englishman. Chelsea and Tottenham have been touted as possible destinations but it’s still unclear as to who will sign him. And, Koeman even admitted there were no bids so far for the English midfielder.
"“What I heard from the board at the moment is that there is no offer on the table for Ross.”"
A swap deal would make perfect sense in this instance. Everton could offer Ross Barkley to Swansea in return for Gylfi Sigurdsson. Both players are probably valued at around the same price and Everton can offload a player they clearly don’t want.
However, it remains to be seen if Swansea would want Barkley in exchange for the Icelandic midfielder. Sigurdsson had a great season at the Swans and has likely doubled or even tripled his value. While Barkley’s value has likely dropped significantly since having an indifferent season at Everton.
Although Barkley has age on his side at 23-years-old , Sigurdsson, at 27-years-old, clearly had a more productive season. Barkley’s five goals and eight assists isn’t a bad return but Sigurdsson is clearly a more creative player capable of creating assists and scoring goals- particularly with free kicks.
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Everton had previously slapped a £50m price tag on Barkley, but so far, nothing has materialised. It makes perfect sense then, that with Sigurdsson valued also at £50m, that a swap deal could be made.
However, Swansea likely value Sigurdsson higher than Barkley despite the age difference and so Everton may have to offer a small sum of cash at around £10m to convince the Swans to let the Icelandic pass maestro to leave.
Swansea would get a talented, if not raw, midfielder while Everton would gain a proven assist and goal machine in the Premier League.
Swap deals don’t often happen in top leagues as they can prove quite messy and complicated, but they have happened, and this is a swap deal that could indeed be made while benefiting both clubs.