Everton: Where will Ross Barkley end up?

With Everton manager Ronald Koeman finally confirming Ross Barkley wants to leave, who will the midfielder end up signing with?

Hopefully you were all sitting down, when Ronald Koeman admitted on Wednesday that Ross Barkley is 100 percent expected to leave Everton. We’d hate to think anyone hurt themselves from falling over in shock.

We’re being facetious of course. However it’s good to hear Koeman finally confirm what was pretty much already known.

Now all Everton need, is for someone to actually come in and buy Barkley, so everyone can get on with their lives. The question is, where will he end up going?

Tottenham Hotspur have been the most closely linked with the midfielder up to this point. However, there have reportedly been two specific issues, both relating to money.

The first is the price tag of £50 million, which the Blues have placed on Barkley. Spurs have baulked at this fee, which is understandable when factoring in that his current contract runs out next summer.

The second relates to the 23-year-old’s wage demands, even though speculation he wants to become Tottenham’s highest-paid player, has been rejected. As reported by The Guardian‘s Andy Hunter, Spurs are apparently reluctant to even pay him £100,000 per week.

(As a side note, this updated wage demand is important. It offers support to the belief Barkley’s relationship with Koeman, along with his ambition, are bigger factors than money.)

So, if Barkley doesn’t join Spurs, where else could he go? Ironically, he could still end up in North London, as per a report from Tom Doyle of The Evening Standard.

Watson writes that the England international is now on Arsenal’s radar, with them monitoring the situation at Goodison Park. However, the player is still believed to prefer Tottenham, due to the fact they can offer Champions League football, along with the success manager Mauricio Pochettino has achieved with England teammates such as Harry Kane and Dele Alli.

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A third possibility has emerged, in the form of Manchester United. Hunter writes that the Red Devils have been put on alert, after Koeman’s comments on Wednesday.

Barkley is believed to be open to a move to Old Trafford. However, their interest is apparently not as significant as Tottenham’s.

With all this mind, it may just be a case of Spurs playing a waiting game. As we move closer to the August 31 transfer window deadline, the hope is Barkley’s valuation will drop.

While there is some risk in this strategy, it does makes sense. If the Blues don’t sell the Liverpool-born player this summer, his value will theoretically only continue to drop, given his contract situation.

As for Barkley himself, this whole situation could theoretically end up costing him a place at the World Cup next year. If he isn’t playing regular first team football, England will be less inclined to include him in their squad for Russia.

Next: Wayne Rooney dreams of European success with Everton

Now it’s official, what’s your opinion of Barkley leaving (whenever this may be)? Happy, regretful, or not bothered either way. Further, who do you think he will end up signing for? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.