If there’s to be a late late deal, then it will be for Everton’s Ross Barkley, says the fragrant Gladys.
Again, the press have invented the money and anyone who was telling you that the Toffees wanted £5omillion for the boy – well, they were fibbing. And they’ll have to live with that.
As Glad told us some-while back, the magic number was in fact £25million, and it was only for the fleeting moments between Chelsea being interested and the 23 year old discombobulating his hamstring that Everton thought that they might have two bidders in the room.
In the second week of June we bid a shade under £25million. At that time we told Everton that was us standing tall, that was it and not a penny more.
The injury has (to use Glad’s super parlance) ‘bazookered’ Chelsea’s involvement. They need an immediate addition and Ross doesn’t offer that.
Barkley is championed by both Levy and Poch. So if we sign him, this one was a joint deal in that respect.
If a deal cannot be thrashed out in this window, then because of Barkley’s contract ebbing away, EFC are looking at having to scrap over bones when they have to let him go in the new year.
Clearly the boy is no condition to pass a medical, but that need not prevent something being put in place in order that Everton get their farewell drink out of it.
Of course this way Spurs would get to swerve Barkley’s ‘people’ negotiating for the most lavish personal terms ever seen.
Your Jim White bingo card will need ‘a late deal for Everton’s Ross Barkley’ square.
