Former Everton star Michael Ball believes Ross Barkley is the player the club have been missing and has urged the club to do a deal to bring him back, in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

Barkley left the club back in 2018 as he forced his way out of the Toffees to join Chelsea.

The Blues paid £15m to sign the midfielder but he has struggled to make a real impact at Stamford Bridge.

The 27-year-old has made just 86 appearances across four seasons for the club, moving to Aston Villa on loan before the start of this campaign.

Since his arrival at Villa Park, he has made 24 league appearances, scoring three goals, but Ball believes he has been missed at Goodison Park.

Everton are currently eighth in the Premier League but they are unlikely to be playing European football next season, due to their inferior goal difference to West Ham United, who only need a point against Southampton to qualify for the Europa League on the final day of the season.

And Ball has urged the club to swoop for Barkley as they look to inject some real dynamism into the squad.

He told FFC: “It was really disappointing that Ross left in the first place, and the manner he left, there’s probably still a bitter taste in a lot of fans’ mouths right now. But Ross is the type of player Everton have missed for two seasons.

“The midfielders Everton currently have are good technical players, they can pass the ball, but they’re very passive, no pace, no direction of going forward, and that’s Ross Barkley’s strength.

“He picks the ball up in dangerous areas and he likes to drive and take on his opposition and get into those number ten areas.”