Everton academy product Ross Barkley, has always been rated highly from his younger days, but the 26-year-old is yet to truly fulfill his potential.
A long-term injury suffered in 2017 didn’t help his cause as he signed up for Chelsea in January 2018 yet to fully recover from injury.
Since signing for the Blues, Barkley’s path hasn’t been too straightforward, but the England international has begun to show in recent games that he has what it takes to play at a high level for Chelsea. Former Chelsea star Joe Cole has backed Barkley to be a top player for the Blues just as Frank Lampard was.
He said: “Ross has improved. He is a top player. I’m a big fan of Ross Barkley. Always have been. “He’s been a bit less spoken about because of Jack Grealish and James Maddison and Mason Mount. But he’s done a terrific job at Chelsea.
“The last two games, against Liverpool and Everton, he was brilliant. Absolutely fantastic.
“I’ve always thought he was a top player and I think he’ll be at Chelsea for many, many years.
“Now the challenge for Ross is can he keep doing that, can he be that player who drives Chelsea on to win trophies, like his manager was? I think he can.”