Tottenham transfer news: Ross Barkley will be paired with Eric Dier if Mauricio Pochettino succeeds with January raid
TOTTENHAM reportedly want to use Ross Barkey as a central midfielder if they can beat Chelsea to his signature in January.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino failed with a £35million bid over the summer, with the Blues also not getting a deal done.
The England midfielder, 23, could be available for a cut-price £20m as he now has just six months to run on his contract.
And according to the, Barkley would be paired with Eric Dier if he heads for White Hart Lane.
His World Cup chances have taken a huge hit as a hamstring problem has seen him fail to lace up his boots so far this season.
But if Pochettino finds a way to use the talented playmaker in tandem with Dier and Dele Alli, Barkley's hopes of making the plane to Russia would be boosted.
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Gareth Southgate has struggled to find competition in midfield, with Harry Winks being called up to replace the crocked Fabian Delph.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also made the cut to face Slovenia and Lithuania despite a slow start with Liverpool.
Pochettino has seen star midfielder Mousa Dembele struggle to gain full fitness after foot surgery in the summer and apparently sees Barkley - often played at No10 - as a perfect foil for Dier.
Southgate has hailed the Argentinian tactician for the solid work he has done with his England contingent and may be placed further in his debt if Barkley finally fulfils his potential.
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