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Ross Barkley: Everton '100%' expect midfielder to leave club

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments569

Barkley '100%' will leave Everton - Koeman

Everton midfielder Ross Barkley is "looking for a new challenge" and the club "100%" expect him to leave, says manager Ronald Koeman.

Barkley, 23, has one year left on his contract but has failed to sign a new deal.

"We made a good offer of a contract. He declined," said Koeman.

Koeman also said he is still interested in Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson after the Welsh club rejected a £40m bid from the Toffees.

The Swans want £50m for the 27-year-old, who scored nine goals last season.

Meanwhile, Everton want around £50m for Barkley but that figure could fall before the transfer window closes on 31 August as he would be a free agent in 12 months' time.

The academy graduate has played 150 times for Everton in the Premier League, scoring 21 times, since making his debut six years ago.

"Ross told me at the end of the season he wanted another challenge," added Koeman before Everton's Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie with Slovakia's Ruzomberok at Goodison Park on Thursday (20:05 BST).

"His personal situation is really not so difficult. My priority is not Ross, with respect, it is his decision. I look more to other players. I knew this at the end of the season.

"Everyone knows what the situation is and that's enough, I don't talk any more about this."

Ross Barkley
Ross Barkley scored five goals and provided eight assists in 36 Premier League appearances for Everton last season

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569 comments

  • Comment posted by Watford Dave, at 14:40 26 Jul 2017

    I wonder if the lack of interest will tell Roass Barkley that he's less good than he imagines.
    Good but...

  • Comment posted by Ook the Librarian, at 14:42 26 Jul 2017

    £50m for Barkley? Who in their right mind is going to pay that!

  • Comment posted by KneeBiter, at 14:39 26 Jul 2017

    Everton will be better off without him. Hes got all the talent but he lacks a quality football brain, consistently making the wrong decision with the ball. If he was going to be a top player he already would be by his age, hes not.

  • Comment posted by Monotone, at 14:45 26 Jul 2017

    For "new challenge" read "massive increase in an already obscenely large salary"

  • Comment posted by gelsi, at 14:40 26 Jul 2017

    No one will pay 50 million, 25 at most

  • Comment posted by AMMD, at 14:49 26 Jul 2017

    @12

    They get on his back because he is an incredibly frustrating footballer to watch. He has talent sure, but he is lazy and he doesn't have nearly as good a footballing brain as he should at 23.

    Honestly, I was so much more impressed with Tom Davies as an overall footballer than Ross last year. I say take the £30m and be done with it.

  • Comment posted by Chapster_7, at 14:42 26 Jul 2017

    If the kid wants to leave, let him leave. No player bigger than the club!

  • Comment posted by MRBLUE, at 14:52 26 Jul 2017

    Bad attitude and seems to lack motivation..real shame as one of the most promising players to come through our youth system in a while but just like Lukaku..if you don't want to play for us then we don't want you...wonder if we could mug off United again ;)

  • Comment posted by Nib, at 14:44 26 Jul 2017

    Good player but already at his peak. £50m is a sick joke and I think the club knows it. If Everton get anywhere near £20m for him then they should take it without any questions.

  • Comment posted by Shadowman, at 14:55 26 Jul 2017

    Supposed boyhood blue wants a new challenge because getting Everton regular top finishers is not a challenge in its self ? Especially with the investments Everton have made this summer ?

    Never mind a new challenge this lad is mentally challenged, should be staying at Everton.

    get a new agent Ross you been badly advised especially after you been offered an improved contract to stay

  • Comment posted by User0042713424, at 15:06 26 Jul 2017

    Another 'worldbeater' who wants a new 'challenge' at a club that meets his 'ambitions'.God give us strength.

  • Comment posted by User0729754107, at 14:52 26 Jul 2017

    How about the challenge of knuckling down and doing his job? Another player with an ego too big to lug around the pitch

  • Comment posted by footyfan94, at 15:02 26 Jul 2017

    Fail to see why Spurs or any other top club would shell out 50 mil on a player with one yr left on his contract. Barkley has 21 goals/21 assists in 150 premiership matches whilst Alli has 28 gls/18 assists in just 70. Sigurdsson with 42 goals and 34 assists in 180 premiership games is a far more productive AM. Everton should use Barkley in a swap deal for Sigurdsson. Best for both clubs and player

  • Comment posted by rjsnell86, at 16:13 26 Jul 2017

    Barkley has made a rod for his own back now.

    Looking at the signings Everton have made, if I were him i would already be regretting my decision.

    Too late now as Koeman has already washed his hands of him. I don't see any big club that might want him.

  • Comment posted by DeathOnSunday, at 14:52 26 Jul 2017

    File alongside Wilshire, another overrated Muppet.

  • Comment posted by D1679404190198, at 15:06 26 Jul 2017

    An ordinary player with the typical greed and bad attitude of kids who have been making silly money since their teens. Will probably be in relegation battling or Championship teams soon.

  • Comment posted by Frank Drebin, at 17:31 26 Jul 2017

    Here's a challenge Ross, lose some weight look and think like a footballer, do the right thing at the right time and most of all fight for you right to be in the side

    Not much to ask for £100k a week is it?

  • Comment posted by User0699984144, at 14:40 26 Jul 2017

    Everton want £50m for a sulky out of form creative midfielder who only has 12 months left on his contract?! Good luck with that! English premium or not, he'll go to Spurs for half that!

  • Comment posted by User0766887094, at 14:56 26 Jul 2017

    Not an Everton fan but i cannot see what's so special about Barkley, apart from being English.

    Can someone please explain how he justifies all the hype? Genuine question.

  • Comment posted by Liverpool 1985, at 14:47 26 Jul 2017

    Agree with the comments below. Barkley has always been over rated, possibly because he's a local lad,one of Everton's own,but the fact is, he's not consistent enough, and wouldn't get anywhere near the likes of Tottenham's team,who he's been linked with for a while. Jake Livermore is picked ahead of him for England. That says it all.

    Good luck getting £50m for him

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