Newcastle United interested in signing out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley
According to TeamTalk (h/t Mirror), cash-rich Newcastle United are favourites to sign out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley on a loan-to-buy option. The Magpies lead the race ahead of Premier League rivals Leeds United and Everton.
Since the club’s Saudi Arabian £300million takeover was completed, the Magpies have been linked with a whole host of elite-level players, with Barkley being the latest one to potentially swap clubs in the upcoming transfer market.
Barkley has found it very tough to get game time under Thomas Tuchel and is currently way down the pecking order in midfield. Since signing from Everton in 2018, the former Everton star has found it impossible to break into Chelsea’s starting XI over the years.
He made his first Premier League start this season last week against Burnley after he was surprisingly named on the team sheet at Stamford Bridge. The midfielder impressed during the match but he is well aware that he is not in Tuchel’s plan.
The England midfielder has just over 18-months left on his current deal at Stamford Bridge and believes that a January move to another club can push him into Gareth Southgate’s plans for the summer.
If the English international agrees to join Newcastle – then he can get the minutes he is craving for and that can even ensure to make an unlikely comeback in the England squad ahead of the World Cup next year.
However, Leeds United and his former club Everton are also keen to get the midfielder on board. Financially, Newcastle may have little problem signing Barkley considering their recent takeover and if the midfielder decides that a move to St. James’ Park is best for his career, then the Blues really shouldn’t stop him considering they can’t guarantee him regular playtime.
With Newcastle struggling and fighting a relegation battle – the management will be hoping to go all out and bring in some decent players that can help them survive this time around.
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The Magpies have also recruited new coach Eddie Howe last week and he will be hoping to add some fresh faces to the squad. If one of them is the 27-year-old Ross Barkley remains to be seen, but with him clearly not in Tuchel’s starting XI on a regular basis, selling him would really be an ideal move for all parties involved.