Chelsea plan to hold talks with Everton over Ross Barkley following their Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and have been boosted by the news that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has turned down Arsenal’s latest contract offer.

Barkley is one of three English players, along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Drinkwater, who Chelsea want to sign before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

Tottenham Hotspur are favourites to sign Barkley, but Chelsea are not giving up without a fight and, as long as there are no significant developments beforehand, Sunday provides the perfect opportunity to step up their interest.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri attended last season’s thrashing at Stamford Bridge and he and chairman Bill Kenwright both live in London.

If they attend Sunday’s game, Chelsea will have the perfect opportunity to try to open negotiations with Everton and make life difficult for Tottenham in their bid to land Barkley.