Arsenal Ready To Battle Chelsea & Spurs Over Bargain £10m Midfielder Deal

Managers are now making plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal are linked with Ross Barkley….

Arsenal are ready to battle-it-out with Chelsea and Tottenham over a possible £10m bargain deal to sign Everton midfielder Ross Barkley this summer, according to the Mirror.

Barkley has been with Everton his entire professional career having come through the clubs youth system and emerged as one of the brightest young talents in Britain after breaking in to the first team in 2012.

The youngster has now established himself as an important first team player with the midfielder contributing five goals and seven assists in his 30 appearances so far this season.

However, the 23-year-old’s future at Goodison Park is in serious doubt as he’s approaching the final 12 months of his contract and so far has failed to agree terms over an extension.

Blues boss Ronald Koeman confirmed last week that the club would have no option but to cash-in on Barkley this summer if he doesn’t sign a new deal over the coming months and understandably there is no shortage of interest.

The Mirror claim that Arsenal are now ready to battle-it-out with Chelsea and Tottenham over his signing with the London trio all alerted to Barkley’s possible availability at the end of the season.

Despite on-going doubts over his future at the Emirates, it seems Arsene Wenger is still pressing ahead with transfer plans for the summer and Barkley would provide the Frenchman with another vital option in midfield with Santi Cazorla struggling with injury and the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin enduring difficult campaigns.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is expected to further strengthen his squad ahead of their return to the Champions League next season and Barkley would also be an excellent addition to the champions-elect.

However, I wouldn’t discount Spurs from the race as Mauricio Pochettino is building an excellent squad at White Hart Lane and Barkley would fit the mold of talented young players that would improve even further under his tutelage.

I’m sure Everton will do all they can to persuade Barkley to sign an extension over the coming weeks but if he doesn’t the Mirror suggest they may be forced to cash-in for as little as £10m at the end of the season.

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The Merseysiders would receive far less in a compensation fee if Barkley was allowed to walk away for free when his contract expires in 2018 so the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs could get themselves a bargain this summer.