Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is readying January moves for Everton man Ross Barkley and out of favour Manchester United defender Luke Shaw, as per various reports.
Spurs have slipped out of the Premier League’s top four and are prepared to spend big in January to boost their Champions League hopes.
According to the Sunday Express, England internationals Barkley and Shaw top manager Pochettino’s Christmas wishlist.
He is ready to battle London rivals Chelsea for Everton midfielder Barkley, who is returning to fitness after having surgery on a ruptured hamstring.
Barkley was close to joining Antonio Conte’s Chelsea in August, but a deal collapsed in the final hours of the transfer window, with reports later suggesting the player had changed his mind midway through a medical.
Apparently, Barkley did not undergo a medical with Chelsea and made a U-turn to stay at Everton. The attacking midfielder, out of contract in the summer, played in a behind-closed-doors game at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground early last week.
The report adds the England international is also on the radar of Arsenal and West Ham but Everton boss Sam Allardyce is keen to reintegrate the midfielder into his squad. It is believed the 24-year-old will recover in time and be ready for first-team action in the New Year.
Shaw, meanwhile, has struggled for first-team action since his big-money move from Southampton to Manchester United in 2014 and Pochettino is keen on landing the left-back.
The United full-back has suffered a number of injuries including a horrific broken leg in 2015 and has since struggled to impress Jose Mourinho.
Shaw, 22, played under Pochettino during the pair’s time at Southampton and the defender has made no secret of his desire to work with his former boss in the future.
Jose Mourinho is prepared to let Shaw leave in January, provided a replacement can be signed. The United manager may also reignite his interest in Spurs rebel Danny Rose and could use Shaw as a makeweight in any deal.
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