Mauricio Pochettino is already envisaging changing Ross Barkley’s role if he joins Tottenham this summer.
The Everton midfielder has just a year left on his contract and Ronald Koeman has confirmed “100%” he’ll be leaving Goodison Park.
Spurs are now playing a waiting game for the Toffees to reduce their asking price.
However, the intent is there, as The Times report that Pochettino sees the England international not so much as a playmaker, but as a central midfielder.
The Lilywhites are already thinking about successors to Mousa Dembele, who has struggled with injuries for the past couple of seasons.
Pochettino is concerned that the 30-year-old won’t be at his peak beyond the end of his current contract, which expires in 2018.
As it stands, Spurs are not short in that area, with Victor Wanyama, Harry Winks, Josh Onomah, and Eric Dier all able to play in the middle.
Barkley is exactly the kind of player Pochettino could get the best of, however, and his development seems to have come to a standstill at Everton.
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