By Adefunmiloye Alani

10th Nov, 2021 | 1:18pm

Everton keen on January loan deal with buy option for Ross Barkley

Everton are interested in a January loan deal for Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley with an option to buy, according to TEAMtalk.

The 27-year-old Englishman is out of favour under manager Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge and could be forced to leave in the winter transfer window as he dreams of playing for the Three Lions at the World Cup next year.

The Toffees are keen on bringing their academy graduate back to Goodison Park, but they face competition from Leeds United and Newcastle United.

Swansong?

Barkley established himself as one of the best players ever to emerge from the Everton set-up while with the Blues, and an emotional reunion has been mooted for a while.

Rafa Benitez needs quality additions in January to arrest his side’s slide and boost their top-six chances, and a loan move for the Chelsea man with over 300 appearances could be a good option.

However, his recent performances are nothing to write home about, with Aston Villa opting against making a loan deal permanent last season, though former teammate Jack Grealish hailed him on his personal Instagram profile after a game last month, writing: “What a pass brother.”

An extended run of games at Everton could bring out the best in Barkley, though, as there is clearly still a good player somewhere in him.

Benitez has often been credited with bringing out the best of struggling players having done so with Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray, and he could work a similar magic on the out of sorts midfielder.

It will be a huge gamble to sign Barkley, but the Toffees are used to taking risks under Farhad Moshiri, and this one could pay off.

In other Everton news, Sky Sports has been left to rue big Toffees decision amid £3.6billion investment.

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