Tottenham have made Everton’s Ross Barkley their prime target this summer and the Merseyside club now appear ready to compromise on his £50 million price tag.
According to the Independent, there is a willingness on both sides to reach an agreement before the end of the transfer window. With his contract expiring next summer, Everton want to avoid losing their asset for nothing.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is a long-term admirer of Barkley and wants to add the Englishman to his squad. He would like to add more creative players to his midfield this summer and would like Barkley to be the club’s new number 10.
The North London club believe that £50 million is too much for a player entering the final year of his contract. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, is a notoriously tough negotiator, and will not budge easily.
Everton have already signed a potential replacement for Barkley this summer. Davy Klaassen was signed from Ajax earlier in the summer, and Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson has also been strongly linked with a switch to Goodison.
There is still plenty of time for a deal to be finalised. With Barkley unlikely to sign a new contract at the club, Everton will prefer to offload him now.
Barkley has had a love-hate relationship with the Everton fans. Despite being a product of the club’s academy, Toffees supporters have often got on his back in the past, expecting more from him. Wayne Rooney re-joined the club last week. So, as one of their own potentially leaves, another has returned to Everton.
Spurs, meanwhile, are looking to secure their first transfer of the summer window. They have pursued many players, but have not yet got any deals over the line.
After the sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City, on Friday, Pochettino would like to add another right-back to his squad. He would like a cover for Kieran Trippier, with FC Porto’s Ricardo Pereira being linked.
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