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Earlier this week, Chelsea reportedly rejected an approach from West Ham to take Ross Barkley on loan for the season. Already spread thin in midfield and with Ruben Loftus-Cheek not returning for at least another month but probably more, diminishing midfield depth any further was never an option.
But David Moyes, who had worked with Barkley before at Everton, apparently believes very much that the midfielder could improve his current squad at West Ham and help them finish higher than the 16th position in which they are currently languishing. Hoping to capitalize on Barkley’s search for minutes as he bids to make England’s Euro 2020 squad, the Hammers are thus not giving up.
(Ed.note: at least that’s what the Mirror claim, who, it should be noted, brought forth this rumor into the light in the first place. Two stories, and counting, for the price of one!)
As revealed by @MirrorFootball yesterday, West Ham have had a loan bid for Chelsea’s Ross Barkley rejected. But they are refusing to give up as David Moyes hunts fresh, younger players. https://t.co/kAIgF50tAP
— Darren Lewis (@MirrorDarren) January 16, 2020
It is worth noting that Ross Barkley actually did very well in the last match against Burnley. While he hasn’t played much this season (638 minutes), it was a reminder that he is actually quite capable of making a difference on the pitch, even if he has yet to prove to be able to do so consistently.
Should he continue to produce, West Ham won’t be the only interest party come the summer, or the final two weeks of the winter transfer window for that matter. This may not be the last we hear of this story.