Chelsea have reopened talks with Everton over Ross Barkley’s possible transfer.
Barkley almost joined the reigning Premier League champions last summer but decided against the transfer deadline day switch at the last minute.
The Blues risk losing the midfielder for nothing as he prepares to cut ties with his boyhood club when his current contract expires at the end of this season.
Sam Allardyce admitted on Thursday that Everton remained resigned to Barkley’s departure from Goodison Park, where he rose through the ranks to the first team.
Tottenham had joined Chelsea in tracking the England international but their London counterpart are confident of sealing a deal by the end of this week.
A fee in the region of £15 million is understood to have been offered to Everton for Barkley as Antonio Conte seeks to put his side’s season back on track.
The Wavetree-born player, 24, has yet to feature for Allardyce’s side this season due to a hamstring injury picked up during pre-season training.