Chelsea emerge as shock favourites for wantaway Everton star Ross Barkley as Antonio Conte eyes new midfielder
Blues set to pip London rivals Tottenham for the England attacking midfielder's signature after losing Nemanja Matic
CHELSEA have emerged as shock favourites for wantaway Everton star Ross Barkley as Antonio Conte eyes a new midfielder.
The Blues look set to pip London rivals Tottenham for the England attacking midfielder's signature after losing Nemanja Matic to Manchester United.
Spurs have long been tipped as the club to finally stump up the £50million asking price for Barkley, but now Conte has thrown his name into the mix.
Chelsea are hoping to not only add new players this summer - after a frustrating transfer window so far - but to add some homegrown talent.
Barkley would very much fit the bill to add some energy to the middle of the park.
The England ace is hoping to force a move away from Goodison Park this summer - after snubbing a new deal at the club.
Everton boss Ronald Koeman said last month: “We made a good offer to him to sign a new contract.
“He declined and told me he is looking for a new challenge. We’ll see what happens.”
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
The Toffees themselves are set to fork out £50m of their own to bring in Gylfi Sigurdsson from Swansea.
Koeman reckons the Icelandic ace would be “the difference between Champions League football and a Europa League place”.
It would be the latest move in their uncharacteristically busy summer.
On top of the signing of Wayne Rooney in an emotional homecoming, Everton have also spent big on Michael Keane, Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen, Henry Onyekuru and Sandro Ramirez.
Cuco Martina also arrived from Southampton in a free transfer as Everton look to break into the top four or the first time since 2004-05.