Barkley move to Chelsea could be off

Tottenham have been given a boost in their pursuit of Everton’s Ross Barkley by the resignation of Michael Emenalo at Chelsea, according to the Evening Standard.

The newspaper claim that Emenalo, who stepped down as technical director at the Blues on Monday, was a driving force behind the club’s pursuit of the England international during the summer.

The Standard report that the Nigerian’s departure may now have an effect on Chelsea’s attempts to prise Barkley from Goodison Park for a second time and the potential mega-money deal could hit the skids.

It is said that Emenalo was particularly keen for Chelsea to agree a deal for Barkley, who has missed the entire season with a hamstring injury.

Chelsea came close to securing a £35million deadline-day deal for the Everton academy product in the summer but the player made a late U-turn.

The Standard claim that Barkley is holding out for a move to Tottenham and the likelihood is that he will quit Goodison Park when the winter window opens.

Good move for Tottenham?

Yes. Mauricio Pochettino has the man-management skills to take Barkley’s game to a new level. The word is that the Spurs manager is keen to transform Barkley from an attacking player into a deep-lying playmaker who builds attacks rather than finishes them. If Barkley can be developed into an effective long-term replacement for Mousa Dembele, it would be money well spent for Spurs. The attacker can be converted into a dazzling midfield string-puller.

This Is Futbol rating: 8/10

Likely to happen?

It is highly probable, yes. Barkley is out of contract at Everton next summer and has made it clear he will not sign a new deal. The exit of Ronald Koeman, who criticised the player so often in public last season, is unlikely to have changed his desire for a new club and upwardly mobile Tottenham appear a good fit.

This Is Futbol rating: 7/10

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