Tottenham in three-way PL battle for £30m-rated midfield wizard – reports
By Danny Wright
Tottenham will face stiff opposition from fierce north London rivals Arsenal for the signature of Ross Barkley, according to a report.
The Sun reports that Everton will face a barrage of interest for the midfield wizard this summer after his talks for a new contract have dragged out.
Interest from the capital is intense as Chelsea are also interested in the 23-year-old.
It was originally reported by the Mirror that Spurs would have to stump up £30million if they wish to prise Barkley away from Goodison Park in the summer, although Moussa Sissoko could be used as leverage by Mauricio Pochettino.
Arsenal are facing a potential exodus in the summer with star players such as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil rumoured to be wanting to quit the club.
Barkley would certainly fill a void left by the superstars but Pochettino’s ambition to take Spurs to the next level could prove to be the pulling factor. And if Arsenal miss out on Champions League football it could be a disaster for their summer transfers.
Everton have been in fine form this season and Barkley has played a solid role, contributing five goals and seven assists in 30 appearances across all competitions this season.
Football Insider Verdict
Out of the two north London rivals, Tottenham has to be the most attractive option for Barkley. Spurs can almost compete with Arsenal on a financial level now but the turmoil surrounding the Emirates could prove to be a deciding factor in where he will go in the summer. Barkley should know that Chelsea isn’t the ideal place for a young, English player due to their recent track history of developing talent. However Antonio Conte will be desperate to add some home-grown talent to his side ahead of next season’s Champions League. It’s a very tough choice for the 23-year-old, but at the same time it is testament to his star power, despite not hitting the heights with Everton.
In other Tottenham news, Pochettino is reportedly lining up a swoop for this Serie A assist-king.
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