By Joe Ellis

14th Aug, 2022 | 5:10pm

Everton target Ross Barkley will leave Chelsea before transfer deadline

Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley will leave the club this summer and Everton are among those interested, according to Simon Phillips.

The Talk Chelsea journalist indicated that the England international has already received an offer for a permanent move from reigning Scottish champions Celtic.

Barkley, an Everton academy graduate and Liverpool-born midfielder, has also piqued the interest of a handful of Premier League sides with West Ham United, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace among those also in the hunt.

Perhaps most worryingly for Frank Lampard will be the presence of Newcastle United with their mountains of money and Brighton and Hove Albion who have been on the up ever since their arrival in the top flight.

The transfer window closes on 1 September and Thomas Tuchel expects to see the 28-year-old leave the club before the close of play on that day.

Passion

The one and only thing Everton fans have ever asked of whatever players are on the field in their shirt is passion and that never-give-up attitude.

Barkley epitomises that when he plays for the Toffees given his love for the club and the area itself so if Lampard can make a transfer happen then he has to do it.

He would not only add some much-needed attacking creativity into the side but also just general depth that has been lacking all season.

Alex Iwobi has played in central midfield for both games so far but he is by no means a natural there despite half-decent performances and it cannot be a long-term solution.

If Chelsea are willing to discuss reasonable terms with a divisional rival, then Everton would be mad not to go out and at least make an effort to sign him but that decision will need to be made quickly with Celtic looking like the early leaders of the race.