According to Football Insider, Scottish side Celtic want Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley. The report adds that Celtic have even tabled an offer for the wantaway midfielder who is also open to quit Stamford Bridge. Barkley has failed to establish his influence in the Chelsea team which is already stacked with quality midfielders.
The Blues now want to clear fringe players and Barkley is one of those told to pack his things. The 28-year-old joined Chelsea back in the winter of 2018 from Everton for a fee of £15 million. Touted as a young, exciting prospect at that time, Barkley seriously hampered his development after joining a Chelsea side which boasted the likes of N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the midfield.
Barkley could finally be on the move from Chelsea
Ross Barkley left Everton as a youngster at the peak of his game. An academy graduate of the Merseyside club, he had contributed 27 goals and 28 assists in 179 appearances for Everton. However, his fall-out with the then Toffees manager Ronald Koeman meant he left the club in a haste signing for Chelsea in the middle of the season.
But since then, Barkley never made it as a regular starter in the Chelsea line-up which demoted him to a mere bench-warmer. He then endured on a season-long loan spell during the 2020/21 campaign at Aston Villa, which failed to reap rewards. Barkley managed only 3 goals and 1 assist in 24 games for the Villans.
Celtic now have an eye on Barkley as the report from Football Insider adds that the club is ready to take him on loan. The Hoops’ boss Ange Postecoglou reportedly likes the midfielder and sees him as a potential crucial addition to his side during this summer market. However, Barkley’s high wages is a problem for the Scottish champions.
The England international is currently pocketing a massive £120,000-a-week salary which Celtic are refusing to pay in full. But they are ready to share his wages and pay a significant amount of that £120,00 figure in order to land him on loan. Chelsea could be tempted by this offer and offload the midfielder at first good opportunity.
Ross Barkley has managed 99 games at Stamford Bridge out of which only 32 have been starts. He has delivered a mere 11 goals and 12 assists across those 99 games, much to the disappointment of Chelsea hierarchy. Now that they have a chance to oust him, Chelsea could broker a deal with Celtic. Nonetheless, his current deal with the Londoners expires next summer which stands almost no chance of being extended.