Tottenham are interested in signing Ross Barkley in the January window after Mauricio Pochettino admitted he wants to strengthen his squad with English players, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper claim that Spurs still want to land the Everton playmaker despite failing to follow up the summer interest with a concerted bid.
The Mail report that Chelsea have already made contact with Barkley’s camp to find out what it would take for him to move to Stamford Bridge even though he rejected a deadline-day switch to the club in August.
It is said that Barkley has “preferred the idea of a move to Tottenham” and manager Mauricio Pochettino is still keen on a deal.
“We are focused on trying to bring more English players through the academy,” said Tottenham boss Pochettino, last week.
“If we don’t have this profile we will try to take advantage of the English market and add more English players here.”
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 to take advantage of his masterly range of passing, but he must show a greater adaptability and willingness to learn that he has in the past.
This Is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
Reports of Chelsea refusing to be put off by their failed summer pursuit, when a £35million fee was agreed with Everton before the player had a last-minute change of heart, is intriguing. It is also a concern for Spurs. They have the Pochettino factor, a manager with an excellent track record of developing players, but Chelsea have deeper pockets. This is shaping into a ding-dong battle, although Tottenham appear a good fit for Barkley.
