The Blues will sell Lukaku… but only if Barkley comes the other way.
Everton have been told that they can purchase Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea permanently in the summer but only if Ross Barkley goes the other way, according to the Mirror.
Jose Mourinho wants to refresh his squad and sees Barkley as the perfect player to help do that, as the Portuguese coach looks to get rid of the deadwood.
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Mourinho thinks the England international is the ideal long-term replacement for veteran midfielder Frank Lampard – who is expected to join MLS side LA Galaxy this summer when the 35-year-old’s contract expires.
The Toffees however are desperate to keep hold of Barkley, who is a product of their youth system, but could be swayed if Lukaku was included to sweeten the deal.
A new deal has been offered to the attacking midfielder to try and keep him on Merseyside, but as yet nothing has been signed.
Many were confused when Mourinho allowed the Belgian to leave for Goodison Park on-loan on transfer deadline day last summer, after the striker had impressed so much with West Bromwich Albion the previous season.
It later emerged that the 20-year-old and the Blues manager had fallen out following the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Bayern Munich back in August.
Lukaku joined the west Londoners in the summer of 2011 for a fee of around £20m, but has spent three years away from Stamford Bridge on-loan since then.
Although the forward has impressed during all those spells, Mourinho obviously doesn’t see the Belgium international in his plans for the club and Roberto Martinez could be the beneficiary – but only if Barkley is sacrificed.
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