Chelsea: Ross Barkley wins penalty shoot-out at kids party
Chelsea chief Marina Granovskaia is set to demand a pretty hefty fee to let Ross Barkley leave for Aston Villa this summer, and Thomas Tuchel could be left in a difficult situation.
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And with a permanent move unlikely, Tuchel now faces the difficulty of fitting him into the side next season.
With Kai Havertz returning to full fitness and a move for Declan Rice not completely out of the question, it seems Barkley won't be near the starting spots at Stamford Bridge.
Villa boss Dean Smith was recently forced to downplay suggestions of a falling-out between himself and Barkley after the midfielder reacted badly to being substituted off against Arsenal.
He said: "He was fine. As I do with all players when I change a team, I explain my reasons to them. I explained it to both Ross and Douglas (Luiz) and, while players are never happy coming out of a team, they understood my reasons because they were the conversations I had. I just felt that it was time to change it for that game.
Chelsea chief Marina Granovskaia's Aston Villa demands could present Thomas Tuchel problem (Image: GETTY)
"But he is up to speed. He is getting the training minutes that he needs now. I said all along that unfortunately for him he was having to get his fitness up during games.
"We had a period of games where we had no training and he was playing. So he is up to speed. I decided to change it at Leeds knowing the way Leeds played.
"I didn't think Ross and Douglas had probably played to their standards that they have been in the previous game against Leicester and, I thought, it was time to have a little change
"But he is fit and available and in contention to start against Sheffield United."