Everton midfielder Ross Barkley has been linked with a move to London this summer, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea all interested in signing the England midfielder.
Barkley, 23, has 18 months left on his contract and negotiations to extend with Everton have come to a stand still as the midfielder wants to play in the Champions League.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly ready to make a £35 million offer for the England midfielder. Arsene Wenger wants to sign Barkley as Mesut Ozil’s future looks to be ending at the Emirates and Wenger believes the 23 year old could be an ideal replacement.
Ronald Koeman, Everton manager, spoke about Barkley and the contract negotiations at the press conference prior to the Hull game and stated “I think every situation is different. Ross is a boy from Everton, and what we need to show to him is the best reasons to stay. Of course his situation is different because Ross is running out, next season is his last year of his contract”.
Koeman went on to say that an ultimatum was not given to Barkley. “I think the player needs to understand this, it’s not an ultimatum but I spoke to Ross about a new contract and it’s up to the board to get that over the line. If not then the player could see a new future for himself, but that is normal, it’s not strange talk”.
Ross Barkley made his debut for Everton in 2010 and made an instant impact at the club with his creativity and direct running at defenders but Barkley never really progressed from there and has been inconsistent since. A move to a top 4 club may help to improve his game and the calibre of players surrounding him could transform Barkley into a world class player.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman took over the club in the summer and has injected stability in the squad, though their away form still needs to improve.
Koeman wants to keep Lukaku and Barkley, who have both been linked with a move away from Goodison Park. If they are to lose both of their key players, Everton will struggle in the league next season and this could spark a move for Barcelona to take Koeman to the Nou Camp.
