A club insider has revealed that West Ham are not interested in signing Everton’s Ross Barkley this summer, contrary to earlier reports.
The Twitter account Ex-WHU Employee revealed on Sunday afternoon that the reports linking the 23-year-old midfielder with a move to the London Stadium were ‘not true’.
“As much as I would like him it’s not true,” the account reported.
As much as I would like him it's not true https://t.co/1GmTqIbM9v
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) May 28, 2017
The Daily Star had earlier claimed that Slaven Bilic was ready to meet Barkley’s wage demands of £140,000-per-week, and that he wanted him to become a ‘flagship’ signing for the club.
But ex-WHU Employee, who is a reliable source of Hammers news and has broken a number of stories about the club this season, has swiftly dismissed the reports as false.
Barkley looks destined to quit Everton this summer, having yet to agree to the club’s offer of an extended contract and commit his future to the club’s cause.
He has just one year left to run on his current deal at Goodison Park, but as the summer transfer window approaches, it seems increasingly unlikely that he will be an Everton player next season.
Everton chief Ronald Koeman has grown impatient over Barkley’s continued indecision, and issued the player with ultimatum, demanding he sign a new deal, or else be sold this summer.
However, that deadline has since passed, and with negotiations continuing to stall, Koeman is likely to follow through with his ultimatum.
The Telegraph have reported that Tottenham are the favourites to put an end to the protracted contract saga, but it is now understood from Ex-WHU Employee that they will not be facing competition from West Ham for his signature.