5 Premier League players who may need new clubs to play in the World Cup
While football is certainly a beautiful game, it can be a cruel one at times. We may end up looking at all the bright spots that exist on the surface, but we often fail to dig deep and know about the individual situation of players in a side. Their dilemmas, decisions and performances are often stripped down to the bare, but few empathise with them properly.
And one such situation arises when the prestigious FIFA World Cup approaches. Players try to make a mark in the year preceding the World Cup so that they get to represent their nation in the tournament. Quite often though, the World Cup plays on their mind and lack of game time for their club forces them into switching teams.
We run the rule over players who could need to switch clubs, if they want to represent their nations in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
#5 Ross Barkley
It's high time we stop calling Everton's Ross Barkley a 'young' player. The Englishman is now 23 and needs to start representing England on a regular basis, something that was expected out of him three or four years ago.
The Evertonian has long been linked with a move to last season's runners up Tottenham Hotspur, but a hamstring injury that he suffered could well scupper any hopes of a move. And a move is something he is in desperate need of, if he wants to play in the World Cup.
Ronald Koeman was open about not being able to trust him completely last season and Barkley himself hasn't been performing too consistently for the Toffees. While his goals and assists stats are good, Barkley has a habit of disappearing in important games and is hardly seen working hard enough. He still has the talent, but needs a manager who can bring the best out of his abilities.
And Mauricio Pochettino could be the manager who revitalises his career. Staying at Everton spells danger for Barkley and with just one more year left on his deal, moving makes a lot of sense.