Rafa Benitez is keen on signing Chelsea attacking midfielder Ross Barkley if he is appointed Newcastle manager for the second time, according to reports in England.
A Saudi Arabia backed consortium is expected to complete the takeover of the Magpies very soon, with current head coach Steve Bruce’s future up in the air.
Fans on Twitter are mostly behind selling Barkley if Newcastle were to come calling in the next transfer window:
£50 million incoming !!!!
— ChelseaFC Fan base (@CFC_Trueblues) May 25, 2020
Please come for him… no space for inconsistency…
— Tady (@Tadymontana) May 25, 2020
Would be a good signing.
— ZoumZoom ?? (@ZoomZoummm) May 25, 2020
50m and he's theres lol
— ???????? ???????? ?? ??? ?? (@TOWIChelsea) May 25, 2020
50% cost of Havertz coming up
— Johnny Opsenica (@jopsenica) May 25, 2020
Easy 30-35 mil
— CFC_Radhesh (@CfcRadhesh) May 25, 2020
I always loved Rafa…
— Birko (@birkotweet) May 25, 2020
Sell him sharp sharp
— Emmanuel Andrew (@Emmanue17249770) May 25, 2020
He's all yours please
— Joaquin (@Gerrard2k4) May 25, 2020
Barkley has shown flashes of inspiration during his two and a half years at Stamford Bridge, but his lack of consistency has been infuriating for supporters at times.
With Newcastle said to be keen on signing homegrown talent and having money to spend under new owners, the Blues could well cash in and make a profit on the £15m they paid Everton for the player.
Manager Frank Lampard already has Mason Mount who can play in his position, while the funds from Barkley’s sale could perhaps finance a move for the likes of Kai Havertz or Phillippe Coutinho as a possible replacement.
