It has been some opening to the season for Ross Barkley, with the 19-year-old starting all four of Everton's Premier League matches in the new campaign in addition to making his England debut against Moldova earlier this month.
Recent reports have suggested that the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea are courting the talented midfielder, but it is believed that The Toffees have issued a 'not for sale' message to interested parties.
With that in mind, Sports Mole analyses whether Everton can keep hold of the gifted playmaker, or whether it is only a matter of time before he seeks pastures new.
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Barkley's performances this season have certainly thrust him into the spotlight, but his form has not come as much of a surprise to those who have watched him develop throughout his early career. He was been with Everton since 2005, while he has represented his country at each level from the Under-16s.
At 6'2" and with an impressive frame, you could be forgiven for thinking that Barkley was more of a sitting midfielder. However, he has been compared to a young Steven Gerrard in the way that he moves, while he also possesses an incredible strike, which he has already demonstrated in the Premier League this season.
It would be fair to say that previous boss David Moyes kept him under wraps, but Roberto Martinez has been simply unable to do that this season with his form earning him a spot in the team. At the age of 19, he has become arguably the first name on the teamsheet in Martinez's midfield.
In Everton's 1-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday, the Englishman was just sensational. Not only did he show his intelligence and range of passing throughout the 90 minutes, but he also demonstrated that he can put his foot in where it hurts and an incredible character for a player of such tender years. In a midfield battle that contained the likes of Ramires and Frank Lampard, there was only one winner.
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It is difficult to compare Barkley to previous talents, but the way that he can burst through a small gap with an incredible surge of pace and change of feet is bound to draw comparisons with a certain Paul Gascoigne, while he has the same stature and physical presence as former Germany skipper Michael Ballack.
Everton have developed a number of impressive youth products over the last few seasons, some of whom have gone onto achieve great things, while some have not. Comparisons are sure to be drawn with a certain Wayne Rooney, with Everton fans worried that their star product will follow the same steps that the now Manchester United striker took.
Following the win over Chelsea at the weekend, reports started to emerge that the Europa League holders and Manchester United were now locked in a battle for the midfielder. In truth, it goes back further than that with Blues boss Jose Mourinho a keen admirer of Barkley's talents for some time and former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson making an enquiry when the midfielder was just 17.
Gone are the days that you have to be playing for a top-four club to represent your country - Rickie Lambert has proved that over the past few weeks - which will therefore hand Everton a huge boost with Barkley's form sure to put him in consideration for the World Cup next summer, should England qualify. Having received £27.5m for Maroune Fellaini this summer, the books at Everton also look healthy.
That said, it remains to be seen whether Barkley's head will be turned by the giants of English football. That's not to say that Everton are not a big club, but can they guarantee the midfielder Champions League football season after season?
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England as a nation have a tendency to over-hype certain youngsters, but that cannot be attributed to Barkley, who already looks to be close to the complete package. One suspects that any team in world football, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich included, would like to have the midfielder in their squad for the current season.
There is usually a case for young players deciding to turn down interest from the bigger clubs due to the worry of not securing first-team football, but that is not concern for Barkley. That isn't to say that he would walk into the midfield of both Manchester United and Chelsea, but he certainly has the ability to play his way into either side, even at this stage of his career.
There has been no official comment from either Chelsea or Man United thus far, meaning that the reported interest could all be speculation. However, it would not come as much of a surprise if either moved for Barkley as early as January, with his stock certain to rise next summer if, as expected, he travels to Brazil for the World Cup.
Everton will not want to lose their key asset, especially after developing his talents for so long, but special players deserve to be playing at the highest level of European competition, something which his current club cannot immediately offer.
Matt Law
