Frank Lampard considered a deal for Everton to loan Ross Barkley from Chelsea, but Donny van de Beek’s transfer from Manchester United will block the midfielder’s possible arrival.
That’s according to The Telegraph, who note Rafa Benitez’s move to sign Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi earlier in the window leaves Lampard with only one available loan slot left.
Lampard is looking to bolster the Goodison Park ranks as Farhad Moshiri’s choice to replace Benitez at the helm. The England icon will pen a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club, before ramping up plans to strengthen the midfield.
Injuries for Abdoulaye Doucoure and Fabian Delph have heighted the Toffees’ need for new options in the engine room. Van de Beek is likely to be Lampard’s first transfer as Everton’s new manager, with a loan deal agreed with Manchester United.
The Blues will pay a loan fee of around £500k and also cover the Dutchman’s £100k-a-week wage in full. They will not obtain any option or obligation to buy the 24-year-old, however.
A second midfield signing is not impossible to picture on deadline day, but will have to be permanent. Lampard had explored moves for Chelsea’s Barkley and Tottenham’s Dele Alli, but Manchester United’s Van de Beek and Aston Villa’s El Ghazi rule out a loan transfer.
Benitez costs Lampard target with Barkley – Everton an unlikely transfer
It is unlikely Everton sign Barkley from Chelsea on deadline day in a permanent transfer for his Goodison return and in a reunion with his former Blues boss, Lampard. So, Benitez has seemingly cost his replacement one of his top targets by loaning El Ghazi from Aston Villa.
Barkley was also a player on Benitez’s radar prior to Moshiri sacking the Spaniard earlier in the month. The Telegraph reported in December that Benitez discussed the £96k-a-week maestro’s Merseyside return with the Blues board as they explored potential loan targets.
But, in the end, Benitez secured El Ghazi’s arrival. So, Lampard will now struggle to make Chelsea’s Barkley – who Roberto Martinez considers ‘special’ – one of his first Everton transfers with Van de Beek set to join on loan from Manchester United until the summer.
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