Report: Spurs waiting for Everton's £50M valuation of Barkley to drop

Ever the shrewd operator, Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is apparently prepared to wait for Everton to lower its asking price for Ross Barkley.

The Toffees currently value the 23-year-old midfielder at £50 million, sources tell Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas, but that sum could drop with Barkley's contract set to expire next summer and no indication yet that the local lad will sign fresh terms.

Spurs are yet to conduct business in the transfer window, although they're prepared to find a right-back if Kyle Walker completes a transfer to Manchester City. Walker's rival in that position in north London, Kieran Trippier, is also set to be offered a new five-year contract, reports The Telegraph's John Percy.

Regardless of outgoings, acquiring a new No. 10 is an early priority. Last summer's £30-million swoop for Moussa Sissoko was a bust, leaving relatively few players as options to deputise for Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli behind marksman Harry Kane. Spurs won't be held ransom, though, and may seek out other targets if a more reasonable amount isn't slapped on Barkley's head.

Barkley, who's also reportedly of interest to Arsenal, has been criticised for a lack of consistency by manager Ronald Koeman. That could be why the Scouser hasn't played for England since a friendly with Australia in May 2016.

Barkley progressed through the Everton academy before making his first-team debut in 2011. He's played 150 times in the Premier League, scoring 21 goals.