Chelsea are reluctant to accept a reduced fee for midfielder Ross Barkley, a report from Birmingham Live claims.

The England international joined Aston Villa on loan in the summer and was impressive for them until he sustained a hamstring injury in November.

Owing to his bright start, the Villans are already exploring a permanent deal for next summer, but the Blues are unwilling to sell him on the cheap.

Barkley has another two and a half years left on his Blues contract on wages worth £100,000-a-week and they are set to demand around £25m for his sale.

Should Villa fail to sign him on a permanent basis, it is claimed that they could shift their attention to Bournemouth's David Brooks.

Barkley has contributed two goals and one assist in his 10 appearances for the west Midlands outfit this term.

He was touted to make his comeback against Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, but the game has now been postponed.

The Villans have multiple coronavirus cases within the first-team squad and hence, Spurs are scheduled to play Fulham instead.