Leeds United, Everton and Newcastle United have been linked with a move for midfielder Ross Barkley, TEAMtalk report.

The Lowdown: Barkley’s struggles…

Barkley, who shares the same agency as Whites midfielder Adam Forshaw, has had his struggles in 2021.

He spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, however, he started just four of Villa’s final 15 Premier League games last season.

The Englishman’s last appearance for his country came over two years ago and he’s failed to make an impact under Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge during the current campaign.

Tuchel recently labelled Barkley as ‘strong’, but he has started him just twice in all competitions this season, and it seems as if Victor Orta is keen to bring the attacking midfielder back to Elland Road following a loan spell in 2013.

The Latest: Whites interest

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are thought to be leading the chase for the 27-year-old’s services.

The report adds that Leeds and Everton are also keen, with an initial loan with option to buy preferred.

Barkley is still hopeful of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad in 2022 and has 18 months remaining on his Chelsea contract.

The Verdict: Avoid…

Leeds are fairly short of midfield options at this moment in time and haven’t signed a central midfielder on a permanent deal under Marcelo Bielsa. However, bringing in a player like Barkley, who is on big money and was labelled as ‘lazy’ by Roy Keane when playing for England, could be a risk.

He hasn’t exactly been a regular in the Premier League over recent years and has a lengthy injury history, so there’s no guarantee he’d hit the ground running in Bielsa’s high-intensity Leeds side.

Perhaps the Whites would be better off looking for a more versatile midfielder similar to Mateusz Klich, who would be able to provide cover in multiple areas such as an eight or 10.

In other news: Joe Donnohue states how much it could take for Leeds and Radrizzani to cash in on Raphinha.