Its as though the top clubs can't stand anyone else in the league having a player of any sort of class in their side. If that player is young and English then their sensors just go off immediately and they have to deprive them of them. They'd rather they rotted in their reserves than another club got any sniff of the top table.
What happened to all that about academy bonuses if you want to buy a player of a certain age that another club has developed. Doesn't that add a premium to the price? Under no circumstances should he be sold, but if Henderson at 20 million is the going rate 5hen I doubt Man U or Spurs have the coin to pay for what Barkley should be valued at.