Chelsea have agreed to sign England and Everton midfielder Ross Barkley

Chelsea closing in on £15million signing of Ross Barkley from Everton? Friday's transfer news and gossip

Ross Barkley is set to join Chelsea in a £15million deal, after Tottenham pulled their interest in the Everton midfielder.

Barkley, 24, decided against a move to Chelsea on the final day of the summer transfer window to fully concentrate on his recovery from a serious hamstring injury.

The England midfielder has not featured for Everton all season, but recently returned to training with the first team and has played in a behind closed doors friendly.

He could have a medical as soon as today before completing his protracted move.

Barkley's contract expires at Goodison Park in the summer, and both Chelsea and Spurs have been monitoring his progress.

But Mirror Sport understands that Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino will focus on alternative targets, leaving Chelsea with a free run.

Everton manager Sam Allardyce confirmed on Thursday that Barkley's departure from Merseyside is just a matter of when, not if.

The Toffees boss declared: "The club was resigned to losing Ross before I got here. I can't see that changing."

Now Antonio Conte, who has called on the club's hierarchy to add to his squad, will strengthen with Barkley, who is eligible for all four competitions.

Blues chief Roman Abramovich is also believed to be keen on Barkley's arrival, having wanted to add to the club's English contingent.

Chelsea targeting Diego Simeone as replacement for Antonio Conte

Chelsea want Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone to replace Antonio Conte as head coach at the end of the season.

Chelsea want Diego Simeone to replace Antonio Conte as head coach at the end of the season. The club have no plans to sack Conte but, with issues over Chelsea’s transfer policy and management structure, there is a widespread expectation at Stamford Bridge that both parties will come to a mutual agreement on his exit in the summer.

The Italian signed a new contract at Chelsea last summer but did not extend its length and will only have one year remaining after this campaign. Chelsea have therefore begun the process of looking at alternatives, with Simeone top of their shortlist.

The Atletico Madrid coach was considered before Conte was appointed two years ago but was unwilling to leave the Spanish capital before the club moved…

Want to read more?

Nike announce that Philippe Coutinho is joining Barcelona on official website

Barcelona kit manufacturers Nike advertised Barca shirts with Liverpool midfielder's Philippe Coutinho's name on the back, declaring: 'Philippe Coutinho is ready to light up Camp Nou'.

 

Have Nike just confirmed that Philippe Coutinho is finally on his way to Barcelona?

Coutinho, 25, was heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp all summer, but Liverpool rejected a number of mammoth offers from the Catalan giants ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.

Barca remain intent on landing the Brazilian superstar and it appears Ernesto Valverde has got his man.
Liverpool and Barcelona fans were sent into meltdown on Saturday night as Nike’s official website appeared to leak the sensational transfer move.
An advert for Barca’s latest strip read: ‘Philippe Coutinho is ready to light up Camp Nou.
‘Get your 2017/18 FC Barcelona kit with the Magician’s name on it. Act fast—free personalisation only available until 6 January.’

Some reports suggest that Coutinho would not move to Spain until the end of the season, but Nike’s post hints that a transfer may be just around the corner.
It’s going to be a very, very interesting January transfer window…

Brazil striker given prison sentence for 2013 rape

The sentence will be put on hold until the appeals process is completed.

Robinho, capped 100 times by his country, spent two years at Manchester City and currently plays for Atletico Mineiro in Brazil.

Brazilian footballer Robinho has been sentenced to nine years in prison for taking part in the gang rape of a woman in Milan in 2013.

An Italian court ruled the 33-year-old and five other Brazilians assaulted the Albanian woman, who was 22, after plying her with alcohol in a nightclub.

The forward, who left AC Milan in 2015 after five years, was not in court but pleaded not guilty via his lawyer.

A post on Robinho's Instagram page said he had "already defended himself against the accusations, affirming that he did not participate in the episode" and that "all legal measures are being taken".

After starting his career at Santos, Robinho won two La Liga titles in four seasons at Real Madrid, before joining City for a then British record fee of £32.5m in the summer of 2008.

His arrival, on the final day of the transfer window, came on Sheikh Mansour's first day as owner of the Premier League club.

The playmaker struggled to make an impact in England and was loaned back to Santos in January 2010.

He won Serie A during his subsequent spell at Milan, but returned to Santos for another loan spell in August 2014 before joining Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande in July 2015.

When his sixth-month deal expired, he moved back to Brazil, joining Atletico Mineiro on a two-year deal.

Brazil and Chelsea star [Willian] is expected to join Manchester United in January.

Last January and the summer before, Manchester United were strongly linked with the signing of Chelsea midfielder Willian. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, Chelsea stood their ground and elected to keep the midfielder at Stamford Bridge. Now, however, it appears executives at Old Trafford may get their wish.Reports out of France indicated Chelsea is engaged in talks to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lucas Moura. Le 10

Sport believes Chelsea will part with Willian, should they successfully acquire their target. Having made only 17 starts last season, and just 15 appearances this campaign, it appears that Willian will not be able to advance his career under Antonio Conte.
Some reports suggest he could be headed to China, but Jose Mourinho will, no doubt, take a close look at his availability. The Portuguese manager is obviously a big fan of Willian, and from all indications, he’s not too keen on Martial, which means Willian could be coming to United to take Martial’s place in the team.

Chelsea are ready to sell midfielder Willian, 29, to fund a move for Paris St-Germain midfielder Lucas Moura, 25

Chelsea are ready to sell midfielder Willian, 29, to fund a move for Paris St-Germain midfielder Lucas Moura, 25. (Le 10 Sport, via Daily Star)

Legend Frank Lampard open to Chelsea return after Michael Emenalo’s shock departure

FRANK LAMPARD has opened the door for a Chelsea return after Michael Emenalo's shock exit.

Emanelo quit as the Blues technical director after ten years on Monday leaving a vacancy in the backroom staff.

And Lampard — who hung up his boots in February — admitted he would love to return to Stamford Bridge.

Lampard said: "I worked with Michael for seven or eight years and his role at the club coincided with the most successful period in Chelsea's history so I think he deserves a lot of credit from that.

"Everyone at Chelsea wishes him well as he moves on.

"In terms of myself, I don't know.

"I'm a Chelsea person, I'd love to be involved with the club long-term in some way. We'll see."

Lampard has been doing his coaching badges with Chelsea Under-18s boss Jody Morris.

And although keeping tight-lipped on the technical director position, Lampard did say the manager's job would be his dream.

He added: "I need to learn, having played for 20 years doesn't necessarily make you a great manager, so I have to learn the ropes, but I would love to be able to put my experiences as a player.

"Of course, having been in Chelsea for so long, that would be the club, that would be my dream, but that's not an easy path.

"I've worked with many managers so I'd like to think that I could take the good and the bad from all the managers I've had and find my own way.

"I would love to work with young players and try and improve them not just as players but as young people."