Antonio Conte’s Chelsea are expected to revive their interest in Everton midfielder Ross Barkley in the January transfer window, but this time around, face a stern challenge from Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur, claims a report from the Daily Mirror.

Chelsea tried their hands on getting the midfielder during the summer and as per BBC, they even lodged a £25m offer, which Everton rejected. However, a deal was soon agreed upon, but the player backed out of the move, walking away halfway through his medical.

The midfielder has now entered the final six months of his current contract and judging by the look of things, he is certain to leave Goodison Park. But now with Tottenham in the fray, it remains to be seen as to which part of London he picks. As things stand for Everton now, their new boss Sam Allardyce has said that he is yet to discuss things with Barkley but has admitted that he won’t be having any say should the Everton hierarchy sanction the sale.

“If someone comes in during January and says ‘Here you go’ and the club say, ‘Look, if he’s not going to sign for us, this has to be the case’ then I accept that,” the former England manager said, as quoted by the Mirror.

The 24-year-old is now nearing full fitness and Tottenham have now decided to enter the race alongside Chelsea. Mauricio Pochettino is a big admirer of the England international and has been monitoring his status since the summer window. But he did not make a move, owing to the steep price that Everton were demanding.

Back in the summer transfer window, the two London giants battled it out for Swansea’s Fernando Llorente and with the Lilywhites being ‘quicker than the Blues,’ the Spaniard who played under Conte at Juventus, moved to North London. Something similar can happen in January, to say the least, as Barkley is now the subject of severe interest from both the clubs.