Rangers and Celtic both fancy signing 28-year-old, now his £200k-a-week deal has been terminated

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Rangers and Celtic want Ross Barkley and Chelsea have now confirmed his departure having terminated his contract by mutual consent.

It’s not difficult to remember a time when Barkley was tipped to come a star in the Premier League and for England.

Barkley emerged as a precocious young talent at Everton, earning comparisons to Wayne Rooney and even Paul Gascoigne.

Yet whilst Roberto Martinez seemed to be a big fan, Barkley just couldn’t kick on at Everton and ended up joining Chelsea in January 2018.

There have been a dew false dawns in terms of Barkley’s development; some promise in patches for Chelsea and even on loan at Aston Villa, but Barkley can now be classed as a case of unfulfilled potential.

Rangers and Celtic want Ross Barkley

Now 28, Barkley find himself as a free agent.

Chelsea confirmed on Monday that they have cancelled Barkley’s contract by mutual consent.

The Daily Mail noted that Barkley was earning around £200,000-a-week at Chelsea and his deal has now been ripped up.

Chelsea wanted to move Barkley on but with a deal proving difficult, they have now chosen to pay up the final year of his contract.

So where next for Barkley as he attempts to get his career back on track?

The Sun’s Alan Nixon reported on Monday that Rangers are looking into a shock deal to bring Barkley up to Ibrox.

It’s suggested that Rangers have money to make this deal happen after qualifying for the Champions League group stage.

Whether Barkley is interested in a move to Rangers remains to be seen, but the Gers aren’t alone; they’re not even the only Scottish club in the mix.

Si Phillips told Give Me Sport earlier this month that Celtic also fancy signing Barkley with something of a battle emerging between the Glasgow duo.

Celtic are well-stocked in midfield though, with Callum McGregor, Yosuke Ideguchi, Reo Hatate, David Turnbull, Matt O’Riley and new signing Aaron Mooy all in the mix.

Signing Barkley would feel like a luxury for Celtic, but you can imagine that there is plenty of interest after Chelsea terminated his contract.