Chelsea 'on brink of signing Ross Barkley from Everton'

Premier League champions Chelsea could wrap up the signing of Everton midfielder Ross Barkley by the end of Friday, according to a report.

The Blues have retained an interest in the 24-year-old, who they came close to landing in the closing stages of the summer transfer window.

Barkley pulled out of a move in August after undergoing a medical, with a fee of £35m being agreed between the two clubs at the time, but the sum will now be considerably smaller as the Englishman has just five months to run on his existing deal.

Instead, £15m will be handed over by Chelsea in the hope of getting a transfer over the line before the weekend, and The Telegraph claims that the midfielder - yet to play a single minute this term due to injury - is currently in London to finalise personal terms.

Tottenham Hotspur were also interested in Barkley, who Toffees boss Sam Allardyce had been resigned to losing this month, but they were hoping to take him on a free transfer at the end of the season.