United mull over summer pursuit of 10 G/A ex-Chelsea man who’s caught Ratcliffe’s eye on numerous occasions

Manchester United fans might be surprised to learn that the club are considering a summer pursuit of experienced Premier League ace Ross Barkley, as per FootballTransfers.

The 30-year-old had represented numerous clubs in the top flight, including Everton, Aston Villa and Chelsea, the latter of which saw him win the FA Cup, Europa League and Club World Cup. 

He was used sporadically at Stamford Bridge throughout his four years at the club, with his season-long spell at Villa coming through a loan move in 2020/2021. 

Despite his plethora of Premier League ventures under his belt, it’s actually Barkley’s time in Ligue 1 that caught the attention of United’s new co-owner, as the midfielder spent a campaign with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Nice before leaving for Luton Town on a free.

Ratcliffe will be keen to get off on the right foot with the Old Trafford faithful in his first transfer window. While he’ll be expected to sanction some statement signings, the likes of Barkley would provide much-needed depth in the middle of the park.

The Englishman has notched four goals and six assists in all competitions for the Hatters, playing an integral role at the heart of Rob Edwards’ squad. There have been calls for Gareth Southgate to grant him a call-up to the Three Lions squad, though he hasn’t featured for his nation since 2019.