Everton is reportedly bracing themselves for a series of bids for their starlet Ross Barkley after it emerged that their former manager and current Manchester United boss David Moyes has identified Barkley as his top target for the January transfer window.
The United manager is under pressure to make a significant January signing after missing out when Gareth Bale left Tottenham for Real Madrid in a 86 million-pound world record fee in the summer.
According to Metro.co.uk, although Everton has consistently maintained that England international Barkley is not for sale at any price, Moyes wants to strengthen United's chances of successfully retaining the Premier League title by signing the midfielder, even though relations between the Old Trafford and Goodison Park boards are strained.
The report mentioned that Moyes left Everton in June to succeed United legend Sir Alex Ferguson as manager and then upset his former employers when he bid a combined 28 million pounds for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines before succeeding with a deadline day offer for the former.
Moyes is also reported to be interested in Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke, but Barkley is more appealing because he is already settled in the Premier League and is eligible to play in the Champions League, the report added.
