Chelsea are set to complete a £15million deal for Ross Barkley.
The Everton midfielder seemed close to joining the Blues last summer, and although he denied being close to a switch then, it is being reported he is set to complete a move to Stamford Bridge and it could be as soon as today.
The Premier League champions are also said to have made a surprise enquiry for West Ham striker Andy Carroll, according to the Daily Mail.
Carroll will be a surprise move for by Antonio Conte, as the striker has endured an injury-hit spell at West Ham since 2013, and the Blues still have Michy Batshuayi and then Alvaro Morata on their payroll.
Barkley is out of contract in the summer, but Chelsea are willing to pay £15m now in a bid to outmanoeuvre Tottenham, whose manager Mauricio Pochettino is a long-term admirer of the attacking midfielder.
Everton manager Sam Allardyce had hoped to convince Barkley to stay but he has now accepted the academy graduate will move on.
“We are resigned and the club was resigned before I got here that we’re going to lose Ross and I can’t see that changing,” said Allardyce.
“I expect there will be some interest some time in this window. He’s back in training full-time. When he comes back, the touch won’t be quite as good as it used to be and the match fitness won’t be quite as good as it used to be.”
