West Ham United are considering a swoop for Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley but will face stiff competition from fellow Premier League club Everton.
According to a report from 90 min, out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley could be set to spark a transfer battle between Premier League sides Everton and West Ham United.
Barkley signed for Chelsea in the January transfer window in 2017 but has never quite been able to nail down a place for himself at Stamford Bridge. While there have been glimpses of brilliance every now and then, they have come few and far between, with the England international largely underwhelming during his time as a Blues’ player.
Last summer saw Barkley leave for Aston Villa on loan, beginning on a promising note before an injury struck him down. Upon returning, the Englishman was well below the levels expected, which meant the Midlands’ club decided not to sign him on a permanent basis. Now back at Chelsea, the 27-year-old has been told to find a new club for himself given the plethora of options already available at the club.
Barkley’s situation has prompted strong interest from boyhood club, Everton, as per the report. The Toffees are set to embark on a new journey under Spanish manager Rafael Benitez and will need to add quality to their ranks in order to challenge for the European spots. Considering the doubts surrounding the future of James Rodriguez, the Merseysiders could use the services of another attacking midfielder.
Barkley, thus, has emerged as a transfer target. However, Everton will face competition from West Ham United for the midfielder’s services. The Hammers’ boss, David Moyes, was the one who handed Barkley his breakthrough back at Everton and is keen on a reunion. The Chelsea star is being viewed as an alternative to Jesse Lingard, who is increasingly looking likely to stay at Manchester United next term.
With Europa League football coming to London Stadium in the upcoming campaign, the club will need to have adequate depth across the pitch in order to be able to rotate their players effectively. Thus, bolstering the attacking midfield slot with the signing of Barkley may end up a smart move despite his injury history.
Apart from the aforementioned two clubs, even Newcastle United are said to be interested in Barkley. As things stand, it looks like the Englishman’s time at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end. What remains to be seen is if West Ham are able to beat Everton to his transfer or if they end up losing out to Benitez & co.
