Chelsea and Manchester United are continuing to monitor Ross Barkley’s contract stand-off with Everton, raising the prospect of a late scramble with Tottenham Hotspur to sign the midfielder before the transfer window closes.

Interest in the England international continues to simmer largely due to Everton’s £50 million valuation for a home-grown talent, who has just 12 months remaining on his contract, and also due to the fact there remains six weeks before deadline day.

Barkley has been in the thoughts of Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino for much of the last year and although it is believed he would want to become the highest paid player at White Hart Lane and earn around £150,000-a-week, sources close to the player insist the figure would not be that