Manchester City linked with surprise move for cut-price Everton midfielder – report – City Watch

Manchester City have joined the growing list of clubs interested in signing cut-price England international Ross Barkley from Everton, according to an exclusive report in the Daily Star Sunday.

So far there have been no takers at Everton’s £50million asking price, with Tottenham thought to be leading the chase for the 23-year-old, who has decided his future lies away from Goodison Park.

Everton are now expected to lower Barkley’s asking price to between £25million and £30million, given that he wants to leave and his contract is up in 12 months, and that has alerted a host of clubs, with the Telegraph recently reporting that both Chelsea and Manchester United were watching developments.

Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star Sunday has added Man City to that list of clubs, stating that City are weighing up whether to step up their long-term interest in Barkley, who has been regularly linked with a move to City since he was a teenager.

Another midfielder is not thought to be on City’s agenda, and Pep Guardiola himself said that the club can’t spend much more, especially if the plan is to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, but a cut-price deal for Barkley may tempt City, especially if they can successfully sell a group of big names in the Etihad exit lounge.

With Yaya Touré and Fernandinho both well into their 30s, Guardiola could look to use Barkley as a holding midfielder, something Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly planning to do if the North London club can sign him.