Tottenham and Chelsea target Ross Barkley suffers hamstring injury in training as potential transfer away from Everton plunges into further doubt
The 23-year-old only just returned to the Toffees side following a hernia operation as move to Spurs or Blues set to fall through
ROSS BARKLEY has suffered a fresh injury in training as his move to Chelsea or Tottenham hangs in the balance.
The Everton midfielder has reportedly ruptured his hamstring just days after returning to the Toffees squad following a hernia operation.
He will now undergo a scan to discover the full extent of the problem after going down clutching his leg this morning at Finch Farm.
Barkley - who has just one year left on his contract at Goodison Park - failed to play in any pre-season game for Everton and was not included in the squad in the 1-0 win over Stoke.
The 23-year-old was due to be in contention for a place in Ronald Koeman's team selection against Manchester City next Monday night.
His injury will come as a huge blow to his potential suitors, with Spurs and Chelsea the main clubs vying for his signature.
Koeman recently revealed he could stay beyond the summer after revealing they have received no offers for their youth prodigy.
Mauricio Pochettino holds him in high esteem, and believes he could convert him to a central midfielder, though they are reluctant to pay the £50million Everton are holding out for.
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Chelsea are prepared to wait until the close of the transfer window and offer around £25m, with the Toffees either having to accept or risk losing him on a free.
Speaking recently, Koeman - who is already eyeing up Gylfi Sigurdsson as Barkley's replacement - declared they are not going to let him go on the cheap.
He warned: "We won’t let him go cheap, of course not.
"We have the experience of what we need to pay for players who came here and had one year of contract.
"If there is a club thinking we can wait until the last day and we put some money on the table and we get Ross Barkley, sorry, you do not get Ross Barkley.
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