It looks like Tottenham Hotspur have played the waiting game this summer, as they’ve yet to make any signings in the transfer window while they watched Kyle Walker leave for Manchester City.
Although, you could argue that with the clock ticking down to deadline day, it’s been a successful window for Mauricio Pochettino as he’s managed to keep almost all of his big names, ranging from Harry Kane to Dele Alli.
SUMMER TARGET
Despite the lack of activity on the purchasing side, Spurs have continually been linked with Everton’s Ross Barkley, especially since Ronald Koeman came out and admitted that the England international won’t be at Goodison Park next year.
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The 23-year-old hasn’t featured at all in pre-season, while he’s been recovering from a recent groin surgery too.
Although he only has one-year remaining on his Everton deal, his current club has slapped a £50 million price tag on Barkley, but that doesn’t mean the big-spending Everton will receive that much by the time the transfer window is shut.
According to The Telegraph, Spurs are confident that they can land Barkley for half of that valuation, but they’re also worried that one Premier League rival, in particular, could prove to be serious competition in the chase to land his signature.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy reportedly believes that Barkley’s contract situation, Koeman revealing that he will leave this summer along with his injury will significantly decrease his value further.
BATTLE
With less than one month remaining, Levy believes that they can secure a £25 million deal instead, half of Everton’s original asking price and it’s a fee they ideally don’t want to budge from.
They might be forced to, though, as the same source is claiming that Chelsea could be targeting a deal for Barkley themselves, as Antonio Conte looks to add some names to his squad with them currently only having 14 fit senior players.
Conte has reportedly been promised three more signings this summer, following the arrivals of Willy Cabellero, Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata – but it’s the departure of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United which seems to have stung the most.
It’s thought that Barkley could be one of the three signings he makes, as he looks to add one forward, a midfielder, as well as one new wing back.
Players such as Danny Drinkwater and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have already been linked with potential moves to Stamford Bridge, but it’s understandable why Conte will want to rival Pochettino in signing Barkley.
The prices for transfer have been hugely inflated, and a ‘bargain’ £25 million move for Barkley could be too good to step away from.
Where will Ross Barkley be playing his football next season? Have YOUR say in the comments section below.
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