Chelsea are monitoring Everton midfielder Ross Barkley’s situation at Goodison Park, according to Daily Telegraph journalist Matt Law.
Tottenham are said to be leading the chase for the England international but their interest has cooled due to Toffees’ £50m valuation of the midfielder despite the 23 year old only having a year left on his contract.
The Telegraph say that the Blues and Manchester United are prepared to match Barkley’s wage demands but are waiting to see whether the asking price comes down before the end of the transfer window.
The playmaker is unlikely to sign a new deal to stay at Goodison Park and will be available on a free transfer next summer if Everton cannot offload him before the end of August.
It’s likely Chelsea have a passing interest in the player and would perhaps make a move if he leaves Merseyside at the end of his contact next summer. With a likely front free of Hazard, Morata and Pedro, and a central midfield pairing of Kante and Bakayoko or Fabregas, it’s difficult to see where the England midfielder would fit into manager Antonio Conte’s first team plans.
