After a glorious start to the Premier League season – which has kept them in contention near the top clubs – Everton have experienced a dire run of form.

One win in nine Premier League games is the form of relegation rather than the top four and Ronald Koeman’s Everton squad is suffering from quite different problems that plagued them under Roberto Martinez last season.

Un-inventive in the final third, the Toffees have scored only 17 goals in the league so far this season. That is the least of any top half side, despite boasting one of the league’s most fearsome strikers in Romelu Lukaku.

The answer to their creative problems, one would have expected, would be Ross Barkley. The England international, however, has been a model of inconsistency this season.

His performances have fluctuated astonishingly from brilliance against West Ham to a lacklustre display against Southampton. Barkley is yet to really come of age in the Everton first team and there are now signs of Koeman running out of patience with the youngster.

Could it be time for Everton to cash-in on their once-prized starlet? Here's why Football FanCast would sanction a departure.

Wasted resource

Football players are an asset. Football clubs, as a result, must treat them as such. Players hold value for a certain period of time, appreciate and depreciate like anything else.

Barkley is currently holding his value – just about – but any longer in his current period of limbo will see his potential market price fall. Looking at a player in such a clear cut way may not be easy, nor commonplace, but Everton are at risk of seeing the midfielder's value plummet.

The additional premium on young, hyped English players will remain for a while, mind. If Barkley has no long-term future at the club, Everton must sell him as soon as possible.

Reinvestment needed

Although funds will be available in the market for Ronald Koeman, the additional revenue from a sale of Ross Barkley would surely be welcomed.

With the Toffees’ squad in need of further investment if they are to challenge for European places, the amount of capital that would be generated by the sale of Barkley could be a pivotal moment in the history of the club. Intelligent investment is still possible – even in the modern footballing age.

Barkley's value is based on potential, but his current status as a rotational option in Koeman’s squad makes him seem wasted.

Distract some attention

While Ross Barkley is sitting on the bench, he is the story around Everton Football Club. Throughout the game with Manchester United on Sunday, the focus was on when Ross Barkley would appear, or so it seemed.

His presence can of course be a positive, but the attention on Barkley does not make it any easier for the rest of the Everton squad. Ronald Koeman, too, must be growing increasingly tired of questions about Barkley. His status as the saviour of English football may have been passed on now, but Barkley’s profile still attracts great coverage.

With so much focus on Barkley, the rest of the squad must find it challenging at times. Perhaps, for the unity of the squad, its better to move on a player who wants to be playing first team football.