Report: Everton willing to cash in on Spurs target Barkley

Everton is apparently open to selling Ross Barkley this summer, rather than risk seeing him leave for nothing next year.

The 23-year-old's Toffees contract expires in June 2018, and the Independent's Jack Pitt-Brooke believes that Tottenham Hotspur is interested in acquiring the midfielder. The snag lies in Barkley's valuation, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy believing he's worth significantly less than Everton's asking price of £50 million.

The openness on both sides to strike a deal makes an eventual agreement seem possible, however, with a compromise over Barkley's cost likely coming before the August 31 transfer deadline.

Everton is already recruiting in Barkley's position. Davy Klaassen arrived from Ajax for €27 million in mid-June, and the club is reportedly undeterred by Swansea City's huge £50-million price tag for Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Spurs are looking to hire in both midfield and at right-back. The former vacancy opened up as Moussa Sissoko failed to impress after shifting from Newcastle United last summer, and Kieran Trippier was left as the sole right-back when Kyle Walker signed for Manchester City for up to £50 million on Friday.