Ross Barkley is training away from the first-team group at Chelsea as Premier League rivals Everton, Newcastle United and West Ham weigh up bids for the England international, as reported by Goal.
If the appointment of Rafa Benitez was difficult to stomach, how would Everton supporters feel about Ross Barkley returning to the club he turned his back on in favour of a switch to Stamford Bridge?
The Liverpool-born midfielder rose through the ranks at Goodison Park, making a first-team debut a decade ago before blossoming into one of the Premier League’s most exciting up-and-coming talents.
In 2013, then-manager Roberto Martinez famously claimed Everton wouldn’t sell Barkley for a world-record transfer fee in excess of the £85 million Real Madrid had paid for Gareth Bale earlier that year.
Five years later, Barkley was on his way to Chelsea for £15 million, having turned down a chance to become the best-paid player in Everton’s history (The Mirror).
The 27-year-old doesn’t enjoy a positive relationship with the Goodison faithful these days either – the boos that accompany his return to Merseyside speak volumes.
So, with 90Min reporting Benitez wants to offer Barkley a fresh start at the club where he made his name, an already strange summer on Gwladys Street could take yet another Shyamalan-style twist.
Would Everton fans be glad to see Ross Barkley back?
It’s understood West Ham – coached by Barkley’s former Everton boss David Moyes – are interested too, with a dynamic attacking midfielder top of their wish–list.
Newcastle have also been linked, via The Athletic, with their pursuit of the 33-cap England international reportedly ongoing despite Joe Willock’s return to Tyneside.
And given Barkley is training away from Thomas Tuchel’s first team – relegated to the bomb squad alongside the similarly out of favour Tiemoue Bakayoko and Danny Drinkwater – Chelsea certainly won’t stand in his way should an acceptable offer arrive.
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