Newcastle United’s attempts to bolster their midfield options in this summer’s transfer window has led to talk of Steve Bruce eyeing up a move for Ross Barkley who is a fringe member in the Chelsea camp.
Barkley spent the 2020-21 season on loan at Aston Villa but was unable to cement a first-team regular role with injury troubles curtailing the former Everton player’s minutes on the football pitch.
With Chelsea speculated to be open to Barkley’s sale this summer, Newcastle United have positioned themselves as the frontrunners to land his signature ahead of other interested parties also in the fray, according to reports from The Athletic.
Steve Bruce has already sought to bring in the highly-promising midfield talent Joe Willock from Arsenal and it is believed that the Toons boss will now shift his focus towards signing Barkley ahead of the start of the forthcoming campaign.
Chelsea have parted company with a midfield prodigy of their own in Billy Gilmour who has signed for Premier League new boys Norwich City as Tuchel remains eager on landing his long-term transfer target Declan Rice from city foes West Ham United.
