Chelsea and Manchester United are claimed to be rivalling Tottenham for Ross Barkley.
The future of Ross Barkley has been in doubt for months and looks set to drag on through the summer right up until the transfer deadline.
Barkley is not expected to play a first team role at Everton next season after snubbing a new contract, while the club have moved to snap up replacements. A recent groin injury has clouded the situation further.
Tottenham Hotspur are the bookies favourites to sign him [via SkyBet], but this week it was claimed by The Daily Mail that Spurs have cooled their interest.
Everton’s Ross Barkley
Tottenham are refusing to meet Everton’s steep asking price for the midfielder, so is it a coincidence that on Wednesday reports emerged that Chelsea and Manchester United are showing interest?
The Times northern football correspondent Paul Joyce reports the two big guns could rock Spurs by making a bid for the midfielder, after becoming aware of the North London club’s indecision.
Perhaps it is true, but it is easy to see through it if it is not. It sounds like Ross Barkley’s agents or Everton releasing information to try and drum up interest, and put Tottenham under pressure.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy should not buy it, and should stick to his guns and only buy on his own terms.
Manchester United have little need in their squad for Barkley, while Chelsea’s requirement for the midfielder is equally debatable.
There is no obvious place for him in Tottenham’s side either, which is why if they want him, they don’t need to break the bank especially when there is just 12 months left on his contract.
Levy should call Everton’s bluff over the United and Chelsea interest and sit tight and hope a compromise can be reached.
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