Joey Barton has criticised Everton playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson following his abysmal start to his career at Goodison Park.
The 28-year-old was expected to be an automatic success for the Merseyside club following his £45million switch from Swansea in the summer.
However, he has made a very slow start for the Toffees and his only goal so far was a long-range effort during a Europa League qualifier.
The Iceland international has yet to register a goal or an assist during his six Premier League matches and is one of several summer signing failing to deliver.
Sigurdsson was tasked this season with trying to help replace some of the goals lost by the sale of Romelu Lukaky, but he is failing to match his price tag so far.
Barton insists that Sigurdsson is much more effective at a “smaller club” and is struggling at Everton.
“I never consider him (Sigurdsson) that calibre of player,” Barton told talkSPORT. “I think he needs to be a big player in a small team, but at Everton the team isn’t built around him so he can’t showcase the talent.”
Sigurdsson earned a big-money move after impressing for Swansea in the past few seasons.
The attacking midfielder made 40 appearances last season across all competitions, scoring 10 goals and supplying 13 assists in return.
OPINION
Sigurdsson has been a huge disappointment for Everton fans and he needs to start performing to justify the colossal £45million transfer fee. The playmaker has the technical ability to rip apart the Premier League, but Koeman must stop playing him out wide for one. He is most effective in the number 10 role and he should start to chip in with goals once his confidence is restored. Sigurdsson has been nothing short of abysmal so far given the importance placed on him and he must rise to the pressure at Goodison Park. Wayne Rooney unfortunately must be axed from the best XI to accommodate Sigurdsson as they need to put faith in the player they splashed out money for.