I want more goals, says £15m Barkley
ROSS BARKLEY has signed for Chelsea in a £15million move from Everton. The 24-year-old’s deal at Goodison Park was due to expire at the end of the season after he rejected a new contract. After a £35m move to Chelsea last summer fell apart on transfer deadline day, Barkley penned a five-and-a-half-year deal worth more than £150,000 a week. ‘I’m overwhelmed, I’m looking forward to it and I’m really excited to get started,’ he said. ‘To be given a fresh start at a new club like Chelsea, it’s unbelievable for me. I’m looking forward to continuing where I left off at the end of last season and hoping to improve and add more goals to my game.’ Barkley has yet to play this season owing to a hamstring injury, but is understood to be nearing match fitness and was set to train today at Cobham with the other Chelsea players not involved in the FA Cup tie at Norwich. Speaking before the announcement, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte described Barkley as ‘a complete player’. The Italian said: ‘He (Barkley) is complete because he has it all. He has stamina, is fast, strong physically, good technique and is a complete player. He is a modern footballer. He has not only good technique.’ Sportsmail revealed yesterday that Chelsea were also considering West Ham striker Andy Carroll. When asked if Carroll was his choice, Conte said: ‘I like to tell the club which is the role we can improve, which is the prospect and the characteristics of the players I need. Then the club try to help me and there is one list, two lists, three lists and sometimes you can take the first name and sometimes the last name of the list.’ ‘This is for the club but for sure when you take a player that is the first on the list the improvement will be better.’