West Ham are reportedly keen to snap up Everton playmaker Ross Barkley.
General view inside the London Stadium
According to the Daily Star, West Ham United are prepared to meet Ross Barkley’s wage demands of £140,000-a-week – but the Everton playmaker is keen on joining Tottenham.
The Hammers endured a disappointing season with an 11th placed finish, but just one defeat in the last seven games may give fans some cause for optimism about next season.
Everton’s Ross Barkley in action with Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin
A big summer signing may be needed after losing playmaker Dimitri Payet to Marseille in January, and the Daily Star claim that Everton’s Ross Barkley is a top target for the club.
The 23-year-old playmaker, who has come up through the ranks at Goodison Park, is out of contract 2018, and with no sign of him agreeing a new contract, they could be forced to sell him this summer.
Everton’s Ross Barkley
It’s now suggested that West Ham are willing to meet Barkley’s £140,000-a-week wage demands to facilitate a move to the London Stadium, but whether they can pay a fee that Everton would accept remains to be seen.
The report adds that Barkley is actually keen on a move to West Ham’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, as he wants to play alongside friend and England international team-mate Dele Alli in North London.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Spurs seem more likely to be able to pay a huge fee for Barkley, whilst they also have Champions League football to call upon, with West Ham having no European football at all.
Barkley would certainly be an ambitious move for West Ham and a real signal of intent, but it seems hard to believe that they could realistically win the race for his signature, given the huge wages on top of a gigantic fee they would have to pay – but if David Gold and David Sullivan are serious about landing a marquee signing this summer, then Barkley could fit the bill.
Do you think West Ham could realistically sign Barkley?
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