Everton boss Roberto Martinez is considering a loan swoop for Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry, according to reports from The Express.
The England international is believed to have been told that he has no future at the Etihad Stadium under Manuel Pellegrini, who is keen to draft in players that suit his own style of play.
This has alerted the Toffees, who are keen to offer the ex-Aston Villa man a fresh start on Merseyside.
Martinez is hopeful that guaranteed first-team football may be enough to tempt the 32-year-old to make the move to Goodison Park.
Barry is said to be targeting a spot in the Three Lions’ 2014 World Cup squad, and is aware that a season of warming the bench could severely dent his chances of making the trip.
The only stumbling block is the midfielder’s salary – believed to be in the region of £90,000-per-week.
Everton are likely to be unable to match such a figure, and are hopeful that the player himself will agree to a pay-cut, or that City will subsidise his earnings.
Barry is entering the final year of his contract with the Sky Blues and is unlikely to be offered a new deal with Fernandinho, Jack Rodwell, Yaya Toure and Javi Garcia all ahead of him in the pecking order at the club.
Should Gareth Barry make the move to Everton? Or should he stay put and force his way into Manchester City’s staring XI?
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