Middlesbrough lay eyes on free agent Ross Barkley | OneFootball

Forgotten Chelsea star Ross Barkley could be on the verge of returning to English football after a disappointing adventure in France.

According to TEAMtalk, Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick is ready to throw the 29-year-old a lifeline to bolster his squad.

Despite boasting a decent-looking 54.5% win percentage across his 33 games in charge of the Teesside outfit, Carrick’s effort to secure top-flight promotion collapsed at the first play-off hurdle.

Coventry City ousted Middlesbrough 1-0 on aggregate in their play-off semi-final tie, condemning them to another long season in the Championship.

Carrick’s desire to rectify that mistake next season requires several additions in the coming months, with Barkley emerging as one of his top targets.

Following a disappointing four-year stint at Chelsea, the ex-Everton midfielder left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent last summer and opted to leave the country to join Nice.

Unlike another former Premier League star, Aaron Ramsey, his career at the Allianz Riviera didn’t go as planned, with Les Aiglons deciding against renewing his short-term contract this summer.

He netted four goals in 28 appearances for the club, which proved insufficient to earn him a new deal in the French Riviera.

Barkley is now a free agent, but since his career has been in a freefall since exiting Goodison Park in 2018, his services are no longer in high demand.

While a Premier League reunion at this point of his career looks virtually impossible, he could still make his return to English football after holding initial talks with Middlesbrough.

Carrick has sounded out the 33-capped England international over the possibility of moving to the Riverside after seeing Aaron Ramsey and Cameron Archer return to Aston Villa following season-long loans.

Barkley will reportedly examine other options before deciding on his future, but Middlesbrough are in pole position to sign him at the moment.