Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley has been offered to Premier League sides Everton and Aston Villa this summer, according to reports.
The 28-year-old saw game time at Stamford Bridge limited last season following his return from loan at Aston Villa.
Making just 14 appearances in all competitions, Barkley could be on his way out of the club.
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Chelsea have brought in additional competition in attack, with Raheem Sterling arriving from Manchester City for £50 million.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel had previously heaped praise upon Barkley for his attitude throughout the season.
The Englishman scored a late winner against Watford on the last game of the season, and speaking after this Tuchel said: “I was very happy for Ross – it was a very nice moment – but I’m also happy for all of us. It would have been a bit too much at the end of the season.
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“Ross behaved so well throughout the season and had a lot of difficult decisions against him, so I was happy he could show his quality. He was very dangerous and I’m happy he could score.”
However, it now appears that the club are open to selling Barkley this summer as he has been offered out.
As reported by The Mirror, Chelsea are looking to get rid of Barkley ahead of the new season.
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The midfielder is said to be on over £100,000-per-week at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues keen to free up the wages.
With a year left on his Chelsea contract, he has been offered to Aston Villa and Everton, the two sides he has played for before.
Villa are thought to not be interested, with no room for another attacking midfielder in Steven Gerrard’s squad.
Everton could look to take Barkley, seeing him reunited with his boyhood club as well as former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.
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It remains to be seen as to whether a move can happen this summer or whether Barkley will once again have to settle for a lack of game time at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel previously told the midfielder what he had to do to get into the Chelsea squad, as he commented on the 28-year-old when he returned from loan last summer.
"Normally you expect - and this is not a secret - somebody to go on loan from Chelsea to Aston Villa that he is the main guy at Aston Villa and then he comes back and takes the next steps,” he said.
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"This has not happened, so maybe there is a long way to go, but you never know.
"He has the ability, so let's see. It's never too late and I will give him the support that I can. We need to wait and have patience."
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Ross Barkley, Thomas Tuchel, Everton, Aston Villa, Premier League, Football, Transfers
Nick Emms