Newcastle United are reportedly joining the race for Everton’s Ross Barkley.
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are interested in signing Everton playmaker Ross Barkley – but are likely to fall well short of the financial requirements to strike a deal.
Barkley, 23, has come up through the Goodison Park ranks and has been the most heralded youth graduate at Everton since Wayne Rooney – but his situation on Merseyside is turning ugly.
The playmaker, who notched five goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season, has refused to sign a new contract to stay with the Toffees, and has even told manager Ronald Koeman that he wants a new challenge.
Given that Barkley’s contract expires at the end of this coming season, he could walk away for nothing next summer – and Everton will now cash in rather than risk losing him on a free in 2018.
The Daily Mail note that Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have all registered an interest, but now newly-promoted Newcastle have entered the race as they pursue reinforcements ahead of their return to the Premier League.
However, it’s noted that the Magpies would currently be unable to afford a deal for Barkley, and it remains to be seen whether manager Rafael Benitez can offload enough fringe players to fund a move.
The Magpies would be looking at a transfer fee of at least £30million for the England ace despite his contract situation, and then wages upwards of £100,000-a-week would also make Mike Ashley shudder.
An ambitious signing, a signal of intent like Barkley would really show that Newcastle are back in the big time and ready to challenge once again, but with financial responsibility high on Ashley’s list of priorities, Newcastle may well face an uphill task in their attempts to sign Barkley this summer.
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