Everton boss Roberto Martinez believes that Ross Barkley is close to becoming the greatest player that England has ever seen.
Martinez told fans that Barkley has everything needed to realise his potential –and what it takes to become the best player the country has ever seen.
He said: “There is no doubt in my mind he will be the best player England has ever had.
“Ross has everything. Normally a player has the pace and power to get around the pitch, or they have the vision to pick a pass.
“Ross can do both of those things. He is two-footed, he’s intelligent and he is also in love with the game.
“All he wants to do is play football. When we played in our first UEFA Cup game this season he was gutted to be injured, because he was desperate to play.”
Martinez knows he will have a fight on his hands keeping Barkley at the Goodison club – even though the player signed a new four-year contract in the summer.
Mirror Sport revealed in August how City ditched a plan to sign him when they were quoted a minimum of £50m.
City will be back in the summer but Martinez warned: “Ross is probably the biggest asset Everton have ever had.
“The truth – and the key to his situation – is that we don’t have to sell. We don’t have to sell players to balance the books at Everton.”