EPL reporter pieces together the Ross Barkley to Celtic jigsaw

An increasing number of EPL journalists are discussing Celtic’s interest in Ross Barkley as a matter of fact. 

The midfielder is in the final year of his Chelsea contract with virtually no chance of breaking into Thome Tuchel’s first team plans. 

Barkley’s Chelsea contract should have him set up for life financially but at the age of 28 his career is slipping into decline with his last England cap coming three years ago. 

Slipping down the EPL ladder playing for clubs hoping for survival or a top half finish as a measure of success will keep the cash flow up but a ‘Joe Hart’ style move to Celtic could reignite ambitions, offering Champions League football and trophy success. 

Lampard doesn’t currently want to enter the race (along with Celtic) for Ross Barkley despite considering him earlier in the window. This has been the case for a number of weeks now, even before Everton brought in other midfielders.

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 14, 2022

Ben Jacobs of CBS Global has over 120,000 Twitter followers with the Celtic link popping up as he discussed a return to Everton for Barkley and a reunion with Frank Lambard. 

On Saturday, Simon Phillips, a Chelsea reporter with over 300,000 Twitter followers claimed that a permanent offer is on the table from Celtic for Barkley. 

Despite a couple of interviews yesterday at Kilmarnock Ange Postecoglou wasn’t asked about the Barkley speculation.