Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could use the bulk of his transfer budget this summer on trying to sign Ross Barkley from Everton, FootballDirectNews.com understands.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic breakthrough season for the Toffees this year, and already looks like being the subject of much speculation this summer with Manchester United and Chelsea both linked with him on several occasions in the last few months. Everton will no doubt be desperate to keep hold of one of their most exciting young talents, and manager Roberto Martinez will hope that qualification for next season’s Champions League ahead of Arsenal can ensure he stays at Goodison Park.
However, Wenger is known for attracting some of the best up-and-coming talent from around the world after earning a reputation for developing players and giving them a chance at a young age, and Barkley may well feel that a move to the Emirates Stadium could be a good next step in his career. With great technique and intelligence, Barkley would no doubt fit in well into Arsenal’s style of play, and could be an improvement on Mikel Arteta in that position, with some suggestion that the Spaniard could make way this summer. Alongside the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley could form part of a strong British core at with the Gunners, though they would surely have to shell out 30million or more to sign him, which would go against their recent transfer policy.