Tottenham and Chelsea to battle for cut price Barkley

Chelsea are prepared to battle it out with Tottenham for the signing of Ross Barkley, The Telegraph reports.

The Everton midfielder has long been the subject of interest from both clubs, who are now keen to exploit the 23-year-old’s current situation with his boyhood club.

Barkley has been keen on a move away from Goodison for some time having previously been given an ultimatum to extend his contract, which expires next summer.

The England international has refrained from doing so, however, which saw the Toffees stick a £50m asking price on his head at the start of the summer.

An understandable reluctance to stump up such a fee for a player with just one year remaining on his current deal, however, has left the Merseysiders in a sticky situation, exacerbated by a hamstring injury that looks set to keep the academy graduate out for a matter of months.

Everton have since dropped their valuation to £30m, though Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is ready to test the waters with a bid of £20m up front with a possible £8m in add ons - a deal that could see Barkley move for almost half his original asking price.

Sensing value in the deal, however, Tottenham’s London rivals Chelsea are also believed to be weighing up a bid and could offer the youngster better wages to boot.

Barkley registered 8 assists for the second season running last time out, with no Englishman able to better his tally of 16 over the previous two campaigns combined.