Arsenal to fight Tottenham to sign Premier League star this summer – report

Arsenal are set for a transfer battle with bitter local rivals Tottenham in the race to sign Ross Barkley from Everton this summer, according to reports.

The Daily Star are reporting that Arsenal have earmarked Barkley as a possible replacement for Mesut Ozil should the German playmaker leave The Emirates this summer.

The same report claims that England midfielder Barkley is currently stalling on a new contract at Everton and that Arsenal are interested in the player.

The article also states that Tottenham want to bring Barkley to White Hart Lane to form an exciting midfield partnership with Dele Alli.

According to the report, Barkley is considering quitting Everton to join a club playing the the Champions League.

But it remains to be seen whether both Arsenal and Tottenham will qualify for next season’s Champions League.

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Spurs are currently second in the table and on course for a top-four finish, but Arsenal have dropped down into sixth place following their miserable run of form in recent weeks.

The 23-year-old Barkley has scored four goals and made seven assists for Everton in the Premier League so far this season.