Chelsea, Everton to explore deals for Barkley, Costa this weekend — reports

Chelsea and Everton are set to meet not once, not twice, but three times this weekend, both on and off the pitch. As we speak, the U23s are battling it out at Aldershot, with Everton taking an early lead on an unfortunate own goal while Eden Hazard makes a rehab appearance for the Blues. Then on Sunday, the senior sides are set to clash in the Premier League, with Chelsea looking to follow up the big win over Spurs from last weekend. Then, according to various rumors, the two teams will sit down in the negotiating room and talk about Ross Barkley and possibly Diego Costa as well.

According to the usual sources like the Telegraph and the Guardian, Chelsea plan to explore a potential bid for the currently injured 23-year-old, who has been a target for Spurs all summer long but they’ve been keen to wait until the final days of the window to try to score a good deal. Chelsea could very be willing to outbid them at £20+8m despite the midfielder being sidelined for the next three months or so with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, people keep asking Everton boss Ronald Koeman about a potential move for Diego Costa, which seems incredibly unlikely but Costa and Atletico keeps not happening and Costa needs to get back to playing if he is to get back into the Spain squad for next summer’s World Cup.

“I don’t know. I’ve always said there is a warm welcome here for every good player, and he is a good player. But I don’t know. I think it’s time after Sunday to speak with the board. We have been really busy with games and are busy now preparing for Sunday’s match.”

-Ronald Koeman; source: Liverpool Echo

All eyes on Sunday then, both on and off the pitch.