Everton have been offered the chance to re-sign Ross Barkley from Chelsea.

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Mirror, who claim that Chelsea are looking to offload Barkley after what has been a disappointing stint in London.

Thomas Tuchel has reportedly lost faith in the midfielder and sees his future elsewhere with the player also offered to Aston Villa.

Despite leaving the Toffees in frustrating fashion back in 2018, he could be ready to return and provide the creative spark they have been lacking.

Lampard would love him

Back when he used to play at Goodison Park, Barkley would have been the perfect attacking midfielder for Frank Lampard to mould in his image.

However, it just so happens that at that time, Lampard was still playing professional football rather than managing.

It has been five years since he made the ill-advised switch to Chelsea that has seen a career destined for the stars dashed in the English capital, however, a return could be exactly what both club and player need.

Everton are crying out for a creative spark in their midfield, whereas Barkley is crying out for some faith and a run in a team. Perhaps now is the perfect time for Lampard to take him under his wing and squeeze out whatever talents have survived his Chelsea excursion.

Having only featured six times last season, the 28-year-old marked what could be his last appearance for the club with a goal on the final day of the season. This came after a 20-match run without an appearance, despite being on the bench for most of those games.

The season prior he did get a stint at Aston Villa where he managed to recover some of his old form, as he scored two in his first four before suffering a hamstring injury and never truly recovering.

Luck has not been on his side, but perhaps if Everton are to take a chance on this £100k-per-week pariah, his luck might just start to change.

Back when he used to manage both the club and the player, Roberto Martinez hailed Barkley as “an example to the new generation of English football.”

He continued to claim that “we all saw that he had the potential to be world-class" and that he was a "special talent"

Although it appears that he never truly fulfilled this potential, there was clearly enough there to demand such praise.

Hopefully, if he is to return to the Toffees he would be welcomed back, and it would provide the perfect fairy-tale story that would delight Lampard and supporters alike. Whether he would be welcomed back by Goodison Park is a completely different thing, however.

AND, in other news: Everton get green light to sign "incredible" £28k-p/w gem, he'd be their own Gallagher.