Barkley will be sold, says Koeman
RoSS BARKLeY’S everton career is over after Ronald Koeman insisted the england midfielder will be sold during this transfer window.
the 23-year-old is recovering from groin surgery and will be sidelined for the next three weeks but Koeman has made it clear that Barkley has no future at Goodison Park.
there has been an inevitably that this point would be reached, given Barkley made it clear he would not consider signing another contract, but Koeman’s words have added finality.
tottenham have led the chase for Barkley, who was offered terms worth more than £100,000 per week to stay at everton, but several other top clubs, headed by Arsenal and Manchester United, are also interested. everton have valued Barkley at £50million but have not received any offers so far and whether they can command such a fee given Koeman’s blunt statement is open to question.
the identity of his next club will not be determined until the latter part of August but what is clear is that Koeman has moved on from Barkley.
‘He had his groin surgery last week and it will take three or four weeks to be back,’ said Koeman, whose side face Ruzomberok in the europa League at a sold-out Goodison Park tonight.
‘We made a really good offer to him to sign a new contract, he declined that contract and told me that he is looking for a new challenge. So, oK, he is not in everton’s future any more. What i heard from the board at the moment is that there is no offer on the table for Ross.’
Asked if Barkley would definitely be sold, Koeman said: ‘Yes, 100 per cent. i’m looking to other players. that is my priority and not Ross, with all respect because it is his decision. He told me at the end of last season (that he wants to leave).’
Barkley still has 12 months remaining on his contract but there is little chance of him seeing his deal out.
Having made seven signings, Koeman wants to make three more additions with Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson a priority. He also wants Arsenal striker olivier Giroud. Future incomings are not dependent on money being raised by player sales.
Koeman is starting to trim his squad and both Mo Besic and James McCarthy have been left out of the group that will face Ruzomberok. Gareth Barry, however, will stay at Goodison Park.