Newcastle United favourites to sign Chelsea midfielder

Newcastle United are reportedly leading the race to sign Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley during the winter transfer window.

Barkley was heavily linked with a summer move away from the Blues, but there were no suitable offers on the table.

It appeared that he could be frozen out by Thomas Tuchel, but that has not been the case. He has recently played regularly.

Barkley starred in the 1-1 Premier League draw against Burnley last week, though he was guilty of missing a clear-cut chance.

According to The Mirror, the Magpies are keen to bolster their squad in January after their takeover from a Saudi-led consortium.

The focus will be on signing tried and tested Premier League players as they look to avoid relegation from the top-flight.

Barkley's current deal with the Blues only expires in June 2023. The Magpies will propose a loan-come-buy proposal.

Aside from Barkley, they have also been linked with teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has also seen limited game time.