Manchester City and Chelsea are locked in a £50m battle to land Everton’s Ross Barkley reports Daily Express.
The transfer window might have officially been closed, but that doesn’t stop the rumours that has been doing the rounds as clubs identify potential targets for the upcoming January transfer window.
Telegraph’s Mark Ogden, reveals that Mancehster City were put off by Toffees’ £50m valuation when they first inquired about the England midfielder before the World Cup but will bid for him at the end of the season.
Both City and Chelsea were ready to offer as much as £30 for the English youngster, but Everton managed to keep their prized asset from their hands. Although both the teams are very well stocked up in midfield, Barkley’s age and potential to become the next super star has tempted the English giants to spend such ludicrous amount of money.
Manchester City needs to have one more English player in their ranks to adapt with the Premier League and UEFA’s home-grown quotas and are desperate to lure Barkley with a £100,000-a-week salary coupled with regular Champions league action, which is a hard thing to turn down for any youngster. As English stars Joe Hart and James Milner are yet to sign contract extensions with City, the management is running the risk of getting into unnecessary troubles. With that in mind, Everton will look to hold on to their £50m valuation for the player.
For Chelsea to be linked with the player seems to be ridiculous as the Blues are one of the heavily stocked team in each position this season.
City and Chelsea faced off in a nail biting 1-1 draw this past Sunday where Frank Lampard came off the bench and scored the equalizer to sink the Blues, who took the lead through a fine goal from Andre Schurrle.