There was some speculation earlier this summer that young England star Ross Barkley would be leaving Everton and moving to Manchester City in a big money deal.

While that would have undoubtedly been good for the lad’s financial future, there is a more than reasonable chance it could have been detrimental to his actual career as a footballer.

Disagree? Then cast your mind back to a young chap called Jack Rodwell.

A few years ago, Rodwell was being hailed as the future of English football after breaking into the Everton first team at the age of 16 and putting in some scintillating performances in midfield. In 2012, after 85 senior appearances for the Merseyside club, he was off to Manchester City for £12 million.

It was supposed to be his fast track to the big time, a chance for him to shine on an even bigger stage. Instead, the move has turned into a nightmare, with the young lad drowning in the sea of superstars that makes up the City squad.

In his two seasons at the Etihad he has only made 16 first team appearances. He went from being a regular starter in a good team to a non-starter in a great one. And, as his domestic appearances dried up, so his England career ground to an inevitable halt.

Of course, there is no guarantee the same would have happened to Barkley if he had followed the same path this summer. He certainly has enough talent to make the grade at the very highest level and he could have become an instant regular.

But there was always a danger he could have hit the same brick wall as Rodwell and found himself frozen out by virtue of the immense quality in the City squad. And that would not only have been detrimental to him, but of dire consequences for England, who need to build their future around Barkley.

Luckily it isn’t going to happen. Barkley signed a new four-year deal with Everton last week, which means he will be staying at a club where he is almost guaranteed a starting role and where his development as a footballer can continue unhindered.

If he keeps progressing at the same rate, the chances are a bigger club will still prise him away before those four years are up. But another couple of seasons under the watchful, nurturing eye of Roberto Martinez is undoubtedly the best way for Barkley to ensure he fulfils his immense potential.

Hopefully, Barkley’s decision is a sign that players are starting to put their long-term careers ahead of fame and fortune, having seen how the big money, glamour moves can go horribly wrong.

Obviously I’m not saying young players shouldn’t move to bigger clubs, just that they should do so for the right reasons, with the right assurances and at the right time. Not just because someone ‘shows them the money’.

As for Rodwell, he has undoubtedly learned from his mistake and will probably be making a move back to Everton or a similar club this summer where he can start rebuilding his career.

But he will never get those two years back. And that should be a cautionary tale to every young and ambitious footballer.

When the Saintsgo marching out

I said a few weeks ago that I feared Southampton football club would be torn apart this summer as bigger clubs circled round the club like vultures.

But I never expected the feeding frenzy, when it came, to be quite so dramatic.

Their success last season, coupled with the departure of chairman Nicola Cortese, made it inevitable that elements of the team would be picked off by bigger clubs.

But at the time of writing they have lost their manager to Tottenham Hotspur and no less than five of their best players to other Premier League clubs.

And it could get worse, with at least two more key members of the first team pushing for transfers. So far they have been refused but you suspect it is only a matter of time (and money) before they join the exodus.

New manager Ronald Koeman must be wondering what he has got himself in to.

Yes, he has already spent a good chunk of cash on a couple of new players and no doubt intends to spend plenty more before the end of the transfer window. And yes, Southampton do, as always, have some impressive youngsters coming through their system.

Hopefully, Barkley’s decision is a sign that players are starting to put their long-term careers ahead of fame and fortune, having seen how the big money, glamour moves can go horribly wrong

But it can’t have been easy for Koeman watching the turmoil unfolding around him over the past few weeks, knowing he somehow has to put together a whole new team in a fortnight.

And what about the club’s fans? Last season they watched their club play some delightful football and flirt with the possibility of squeezing into Europe. This season it would be a major achievement if they don’t get caught up in the relegation battle.

Part of me hopes Koeman pulls off what looks like mission impossible by moulding his remaining players, his new signings and lots of youngsters into a team that not only survives but thrives.

Bettering their eighth place finish of last season would be a great way for Southampton to stick two fingers up at the clubs that have spent the summer stripping away their assets.

But then again, what’s the point? Another good season and the chances are the entire process would be repeated next summer anyway.

Sometimes football is a very cruel sport.

Spending wisely

I have heard concerns last week that Liverpool are doing a ‘Spurs’.

When the London club sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid they went on a spending spree that saw them bring in seven new players.

The plan didn’t work and the manager who oversaw the recruitment drive ended up getting the sack.

Liverpool, who lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona last month, have gone on a similar sort of spree, signing six players so far (half of them from Southampton) with the possibility of more to come.

But unlike Andre Villas-Boas, I believe Brendan Rogers has a vision. He isn’t just splashing the cash for the sake of it, he is buying players that fit into his long-term plans for the club.

Rogers knew he needed more depth to his squad with Champions League football returning to Anfield this season. And I can pretty much assure you that most of the players he has signed would have been brought in even if Suarez had decided to keep his teeth housed in Liverpool.

Also, the Liverpool boss isn’t naive enough to try and shoehorn all his new signings into the team from the word go. One or two will probably be regular starters but the rest will be around to provide back-up and competition for places, at least initially.

The short answer to the question is that Liverpool are not making the same mistake as Spurs. They are spending wisely and in the right positions; they are buying players that will strengthen the team now and in the future.

Will the new players be enough to enable them to mount a sustained title challenge this season?

On that I have my doubts. But then again, I didn’t believe they had enough of a team to challenge last season, so what do I know…

sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com
Twitter: @maltablade