The champions backed off in the last window when quoted £50m for midfielder they were willing to pay £30m to sign but they are set to go higher next summer.
Twofer: Buying Barkley would help make Manchester City younger and more English
Manchester City are ready to launch a fresh bid for Everton and England star Ross Barkley.
City – who will also hand new deals to Three Lions duo Joe Hart and James Milner – were quoted an asking price of £50million for the rising-star midfielder this past summer.
That was £20m above what the Premier League champions were willing to pay for the 20-year-old, so the proposed deal never got off the ground and Barkley remained at Goodison Park.
But with City conscious of both the need to bring down the age of their squad and invest in home-grown players to comply with Premier League and UEFA quotas, he is now back on their radar.
The Etihad club did extensive research on Barkley’s character and background in the summer, compiling an extensive dossier on all aspects of his life before making Everton aware of their interest.
Although the deal failed to happen, it is understood the City hierarchy, including manager Manuel Pellegrini, remain keen on Barkley and are ready to explore the prospect of going back in for him next summer.
Barkley, currently making his way back from a pre-season knee injury, played in all three of England’s matches at the World Cup in Brazil and is seen as one of European football’s most exciting young prospects.
Matthias HangstSAO PAULO, BRAZIL – JUNE 19: Wayne Rooney of England (R) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with Ross Barkley during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Uruguay and England at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Mane man: Barkley celebrates England’s World Cup goal against Uruguay with scorer Wayne Rooney
He signed a new four-year contract in July, but City are willing to test the Toffees’ resolve to keep him with a renewed bid.
Although City are said to be unwilling to match Everton’s £50m valuation, there is a feeling at the Etihad that a bid of around £35m could ultimately prove successful.
City valued Barkley at £20m in the summer, but were aware there would be a premium placed on any fee they paid because of their wealth and him being English and so were willing to stretch to £30m.
Now, with their need to acquire home-grown players, City could be ready to go higher and reach a compromise fee next summer.
The champions will also hand first-choice goalkeeper Hart and midfielder Milner new contracts in the coming weeks, sources at Eastlands have confirmed.
Hart has watched as a string of City’s other key players, including Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and David Silva, have put pen to paper recently.
Milner – man of the match in City’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday – is scheduled out of contract at the end of this season, but has proved his enduring value to the champions.
Both men will be rewarded with lucrative new contracts, despite Hart and his representatives having heard nothing from the club with regard to discussions.
