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Chelsea 'Make £25 Million Bid' As Final Days Of The Window Approach

Chelsea 'Make £25 Million Bid' As Final Days Of The Window Approach

Antonio Conte wants to get some business done.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Chelsea are looking to do a fair bit of business before Thursday's transfer deadline, and reports tonight say the club have tabled a £25 million bid for Everton midfielder Ross Barkley.

Like London rivals Spurs, the Blues have long been linked with Barkley, and as per Matt Law from The Telegraph, are looking to make him a Chelsea player by the time the window slams shut at 11pm in two days time.

Barkley, an Everton youth product, is out of contract next summer and like his former teammate Romelu Lukaku, who joined Manchester United for £75 million earlier this summer, nothing has suggested he will extend his deal.

And as a result, Chelsea are making the most of the situation by bidding £25 million for the England international. Law reports that earlier in the window, Everton were demanding £50 million for one of their most valuable possessions, but with the deadline looming, have conceded that they will not receive that amount.

Image: PA

Thus, Chelsea have proposed half of that fee and feel that Barkley could be a highly useful player at Stamford Bridge. They do not see any issue in the fact that the 23-year old is currently sidelined for three months with a hamstring injury and are pressing ahead to try and get the deal done.

Everton may well have to accept the offer rather than losing Barkley for free next summer, but their ideal wish will be that Spurs come in with a better offer and a bidding war between last season's top two in the Premier League ensues.

Image: PA

Barkley is one of three England players Antonio Conte is hoping to add to his ranks. The club are hopeful a third bid for Danny Drinkwater, and Leicester being able to sign a replacement, will lead to the Manchester United youth product joining, while they have had a £35 million bid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain accepted by Arsenal and are now waiting for the player's seal of approval - something skipper Gary Cahill is expected to work on while the two are on international duty with England.

Swansea striker Fernando Llorente, who worked with Conte at Juventus, has remained a target for Chelsea, and it's said the club are "optimistic" Swansea will let him join.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Chelsea, Football, Ross Barkley, Everton