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Chelsea ready to beat Tottenham to Ross Barkley transfer in January

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Chelsea ready to beat Tottenham to major January transfer deal — Chelsea are leading the race to sign Everton’s England international Ross Barkley (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea are leading the race to sign England international Ross Barkley from Everton, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Antonio Conte was hoping to bring Barkley, 24, to Stamford Bridge last summer and launched a deadline day move to secure his signature.

Barkley was interested in the switch but decided to turn Chelsea down as he wanted to regain his fitness before making such a major decision over his future.

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He is yet to play a game during the 2017-18 campaign and will be out of contract come the summer but Chelsea are nevertheless hoping to finally bring him to west London next month.

Tottenham have also been keeping tabs on Barkley but would rather sign him as a free agent, putting Chelsea firmly in the driving seat ahead of the January transfer window.

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It is claimed both Chelsea and Everton, who have moved into the top-half of the table under Sam Allardyce, hope Barkley’s future is resolved in early January to avoid another saga running through the window.

Reigning Premier League champions Chelsea have also expressed interest in signing Monaco and France midfielder Thomas Lemar and Juventus star Alex Sandro.