Everton legend Peter Reid has said that he expects the midfield trio of Jack Rodwell and Ross Barkley to become the future of Everton in the next couple of seasons. The England under 21 international Jack Rodwell was regarded as the big thing to come from Everton after Wayne Rooney. However, he has suffered numerous injury problems in the last few seasons, which have proved to be extremely detrimental in his efforts to improve as a player. In the meantime, the 18-year-old midfielder Ross Barkley has emerged as another potential star from the Everton youth academy.
Peter Reid, who is regarded as a legend at Goodison Park, has said that he is extremely confident that both these players will prove to be standing for Everton in the near future. He expects them to continue development in various stages over the next few years before they start to perform as people expect them to do. Jack Rodwell and Ross Barkley, however, have been linked with moves away from Goodison Park. It is expected that both these players will help Everton get around £ 60 million in transfer fees, which can then be reinvested in improving the whole squad. Peter Reid, however, thinks that Everton should keep both these players.
“We’ve had Naismith come in and there’s speculation about Pienaar. Hopefully the two young lads, (Jack) Rodwell and (Ross)Barkley will be fit and put pressure on for a first team place as well. Jelavic in the last transfer window was a master-stroke. If they can actually get Pienaar it would be great, and then you’re looking at a really strong, well-balanced squad which you would want at any football club,” said the former Everton player Peter Reid ahead of the start of the pre-season. David Moyes has just past the decade mark in charge of Everton.