Ross Barkley

[Pat Mustard]

An England international midfielder who should be in his prime, and will be playing for his place at the European Championships next summer - yes please.

Also, unlike when we signed the likes of Ireland and Drinkwater, we have a strong enough squad that he is going to have to work hard to justify a starting place in the team.  Say what you like about a player like Hourihane (who I actually rate very highly for what he brings to the team), but there is no way he will stand idly by if someone is getting in ahead of him and not performing.  I think we have sot some exciting times ahead.

[lovejoy]

Non-plussed, is midfield really where we need to strengthen?

Yes, we keep on getting overrun at times.  Also, we struggle to get central midfield players up quickly to support our central striker.

Ahead of a left back and centre forward? Really?

[LukeJames]

Im a fan of Barkleys ability but going from his boyhood club to a 'top 4' club and then to us, I just hope hes got the hunger too match his ability.

Kind of like if Jack had gone to Man Utd and then joined Newcastle a couple of years later.

[richtheholtender]

Im a fan of Barkleys ability but going from his boyhood club to a 'top 4' club and then to us, I just hope hes got the hunger too match his ability.

Kind of like if Jack had gone to Man Utd and then joined Newcastle a couple of years later.

I’d look at it as Everton - made his name, Chelsea - made his money, Villa - winning stuff.

[Risso]

I think it possibly pushes the likes of Lansbury towards the exit door and possibly Ramsey out on loan but I hope not in Ramsey's case although it would be understandable.

Ramsey will be a League Cup starter and in the squad.  Marvelous is surplus now.  Lansbury is a wart that just won't go away.

Marvelous isn't surplus.  Who plays DM when Luiz gets injured or needs a rest?

Anybody except Marvelous hopefully.

[sickbeggar]

End of the day he's not a bit part player at Chelsea. He played an average of something like 37 games in each of his two seasons so he must be doing something right. It's not like we've loaned Chelsea's Lansbury. That was last season....

[chrisw1]

I think it possibly pushes the likes of Lansbury towards the exit door and possibly Ramsey out on loan but I hope not in Ramsey's case although it would be understandable.

Ramsey will be a League Cup starter and in the squad.  Marvelous is surplus now.  Lansbury is a wart that just won't go away.

Marvelous isn't surplus.  Who plays DM when Luiz gets injured or needs a rest?

Anybody except Marvelous hopefully.

Go on then?

[Smithy]

I was wondering if Barkley replacing Hourihane in the starting 11 would make us a better side overrall, but at the expense of potentially losing a little threat from set-pieces.

Then I saw this: https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/1155727404566032389

:-)

[Sexual Ealing]

The more I think of it, the more I think that this is big signing. One that'll send a message to players that we mean business, particularly in an environment where the likes of Spurs and Arsenal can't spend money, so they need to get on board.

[West Derby Villan]

Terrific signing, very happy with this loan. International (who will want to play in the Euros next season)  with plenty of premiership experience. Will add much needed bite and strength to the midfield. What a fantastic window this has been.

[Axl Rose]

Not very happy with this, but good luck Ross. Hope you prove me wrong and go on to be amazing.

[fbriai]

Another good signing. You'd have thought he'd go in ahead of Hourihane, meaning we've improved the first-team again. Of the players we've brought in over the summer, they are all, except for Traoré at the moment, starting ahead of players we already had.

[Footy-Vill]

Comfortable in a 3 man midfield.  Box to box player.
But also can at inside forward as one of 2 behind a striker.

His flexibility in midfield  both as attacker and box to box provides Smith with so much variety in the tactical  formation  in-game during the match.

Ross  class qualities will further enhance the team and how we play.  Fantastic as long as he keeps limted off field distraction and focus on football. Though covid  and curfews can help that.

Supremely looking forward to the link up with Grealish,  Traore,  Watkins and McGinn

[jwarry]

I know we are all thinking he’s competition for Conor but I suspect he will also allow McGuinn a rest too, which he sometimes needs, or even Jack come to think of it

[john e]

How many of our existing midfielders would get a starting spot in that Chelsea squad? Good player that can't get regular football in a squad full of extremely good players.

We now have proper competition for the tree midfield places, which can only improve us.

Doug McGinn & Grealish