The Everton midfielder looked set for a deadline day move to Chelsea but could now be heading to Tottenham Hotspur.
Joey Barton has been speaking to Talk Sport about the situation involving Ross Barkley’s failed move from Everton to Chelsea, and his comments make for interesting reading.
As reported by the Star on Sunday, Barkley allegedly refused to take part in a medical ahead of a proposed move to Chelsea and instead intends to move to Tottenham Hotspur in January.
However, Barton has now gone on record to suggest that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte may have indirectly had a part to play by turning his phone off on the day when many managers are getting calls galore.
“The Barkley representatives were trying to contact (Conte) to say ‘Look, where am I going to play?’ and he turned his phone off,” Barton told Talk Sport.
“That’s why Barkley got cold feet and never signed for them; because he went, ‘Well, if the manager’s not answering the phone then he clearly doesn’t want me’.”
It is another bizarre twist in a summer that has not exactly been light on transfer drama, and if it is true and Barkley ends up swapping Everton for Spurs, Tottenham fans will no doubt be pleased that Conte was unable to take the call that could have changed everything.
For now Barkley remains at Everton, where he will be hoping to get back to full fitness ahead of what could be a busy winter window.
Tottenham have long been linked with the 23-year-old and he seems a good fit for Mauricio Pochettino’s thinking.
He could also be available for a cheaper fee with just six months remaining on his contract, although Everton will not want to be fleeced after missing out on £35million just a few days ago.
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