Everton FC: Is Ross Barkley finally set to leave?
By Paul Taylor
Speculations has increased that Everton are preparing to move Ross Barkley, after he was left out of their pre-season trip to Tanzania.
Ever since it was confirmed Romelu Lukaku was leaving, attention has been focused on Ross Barkley. How long does he have left at Everton?
If the latest news is anything to go by, it would be very easy to assume not much longer. That’s because Everton left for Tanzania on Tuesday night, without Barkley.
As reported by The Telegraph‘s Chris Bascombe, the official reason for the 23-year-old’s exclusion, is because he is receiving treatment on a groin injury. On its own merits, this sounds reasonable enough.
However, this reasoning starts to become less plausible, when you consider Yannick Bolasie was on the flight to Tanzania. As most people are aware, Bolasie is still recovering from a serious knee injury and is — at best — not expected back until the end of the year.
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This recent turn of events only adds fuel to the fire, that Barkley will be gone sooner than later. Manager Ronald Koeman previously told him to sign his contract extension before the end of May, or he would be sold this summer.
Considering the England international was being offered a deal that would have made him the highest paid player in club history, his refusal to sign the deal speaks volumes. And as we’ve found with Lukaku, if someone doesn’t want to play for you, what’s the point of keeping him around?
Another reason Everton will want to move Barkley before the end of this transfer window, comes down to his current contract. With just one year remaining, the Blues’ bargaining power will weaken if he is still with them at 11:00 pm on August 31.
In truth, you could argue Everton are already compromising their bargaining position, as per their reported valuation of the midfielder. Tottenham Hotspur are interested in the player, but are apparently not prepared to match the £50 million price tag.
As a final thought, it’s possible Koeman excluded Barkley from the pre-season tour to Tanzania, to make a point, rather than because of an imminent sale. The Everton manager is known for his old style, no-nonsense approach and is happy to freeze the youngster out, if he won’t commit to the team long-term.
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Do you view Barkley’s exclusion from the trip to Tanzania as evidence he’s about to be moved? Or is there still a good chance he will still be with Everton, once we reach the end of the current transfer window? Share your thoughts in the comments section.