Everton’s wantaway midfielder Ross Barkley, 23, is the subject of another clash between London giants Chelsea and Tottenham. The two sides met last weekend in the first-ever Premier League match to be played at Wembley which is the Lilywhites temporary home while the new White Hart Lane is finished.
Chelsea won that scrap 2 – 1 but Tottenham remain 2/1 favourites to win the race for his signature. The Blues are closing in on the midfielder and know there is a stand-off between the north London club and player. Barkley was offered £150k per week by Everton to stay but rejected the move. That’s above Spurs upper wage limit and so far, they aren’t inclined to shift their stance.
Interest from other clubs could hardly come at a better time for the England international. Pressure is mounting on the Spurs chairman Daniel Levy with the news that Dele Alli has appointed a new agent to deal with his wage negotiations.
Currently on a deal worth £65k per week, the midfielder knows he can triple his wages elsewhere. While the lure of playing for Spurs is strong, his head is turned every time he reports for England duty.
Levy so far won’t budge on his strong-handed financial policies which runs the risk of not only scuppering the club’s moves in the transfer market but also those to retain their squad which is on the verge of delivering the club’s first title in half-a-century.
