Loan-listed Barcelona product would be perfect for Everton

Sergi Samper is 22 years old and is seen as one of La Masia’s better products in recent years. The fact that Barcelona is crowding him out of their midfield to sign players from the Chinese Super League would make Johann Cruyff turn over in his grave.

This is no longer the Barcelona of “Més que un club” — this is an attempt to save a crumbling empire through plastic.

Barcelona has listed Samper on loan. Samper is a defensive midfielder who is strong in possession and who simply oozes quality every time he is on the pitch. He could be the true backup passing maestro that Everton needs if Gareth Barry is truly set to leave the club.

Last season, on loan at Granada, Samper completed 81% of his passes, including 84% of his short passes. He generally took care of the ball well, with his dispossession numbers being very respectable considering he was on a team getting hounded and mowed over in nearly every match.

With Barry seemingly on his way out of the club, a talented youngster eager to prove he belongs at one of the world’s biggest clubs is exactly the kind of motivated talent that could serve the Toffees extremely well coming off the bench. And who knows — if Koeman happens to have him on loan in the year that he really starts growing into his potential, then Everton could find itself with a reliable way to rest Morgan Schneiderlin down the stretch as we push for Europa League glory.