Reports suggest that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama could be out for the season with his knee injury.
As The Telegraph reports, Spurs kept an eye on Barkley over the summer but did not launch a bid after he picked up a hamstring problem.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has a reputation for taking transfers to the wire in order to get the best possible deal, but Tottenham’s injury concerns mean that they need to get Barkley through the door as soon as they can.
Victor Wanyama has not played since August and Mousa Dembele is forever in and out of the team.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino told The Independent that Wanyama will see a specialist about his knee issue, and there is no timescale on his return.
Tottenham have a huge run of games as the January transfer window closes – Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League and probably a two-legged Champions League last-16 tie.
If Pochettino is without at least one of Wanyama and Dembele, he would love to have Barkley available and acclimatised to his squad in time for those matches.
Although not a like-for-like replacement for either player, a fit Barkley would be a definite step up on Moussa Sissoko who has been deputising in midfield in the meantime.
Levy needs to get a deal lined up with Everton for the beginning of the window so that the 23-year-old can have the opportunity to make an impact when it matters most.
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