Who is this "top player" Ross Barkley. Never has been nor having that potential.
Fancy touches, good balance and fine dribbling skills, as an attacker just okay in everything else, just a good player, nothing to get excited about.
Every young player has that I guess. I see the same in McTominay
Of course, you forgot to mention his shooting ability, with left and right foot. Barkley was obviously a highly promising young player. He was being touted for massive money as a teenager at Everton, and has only ever been linked with joining CL-level clubs while he was there, before eventually joining one.
You know all this anyway, because you were there, but by all means...