Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are all keen to sign Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, but aren’t willing to match the Toffees’ lofty asking price.

According to Tom Collomosse of the Evening Standard, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs have all shown interest in a £25m deal for Barkley, but Everton are asking for twice the price if they are to sell him this summer.

Arsenal could be losing a host of creative midfielders in the next 12 months, with Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere having just 12 months left on their deal. Barkley could help solve this problem, although I can’t see them matching Everton’s asking price.

Chelsea have lost a number of midfielders this summer – Nemanja Matic, Nathaniel Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek – and may need to make more signings to cover for their loss in the engine room. Tottenham are believed to have the greatest appeal to Barkley, however.

The English international is reportedly keen to link up with manager Mauricio Pochettino. The main problem for Barkley is that he’s not commanding a starting place in the Everton side, with manager Ronald Koeman keen to let him go. But Spurs could resurrect his career.

His currently injury might hold up a move, however, with Sky Sports reporting a hamstring problem suffered last week. If Barkley doesn’t leave in the current window it’s hard to see any winners from the situation.

The 23-year-old would be stuck at a club where everyone knows he wants out and Everton would be left knowing they’ll lose the player on a free next summer.