Ross Barkley left behind for Everton pre-season trip

Everton head to Netherlands without Ross Barkley for pre-season trip

• Barkley has not recovered from a groin injury
• Everton sign defender Cuco Martina on a free transfer

Ross Barkley will miss Everton’s second overseas trip of pre-season having failed to recover from a groin problem in time for the squad’s departure for the Netherlands.

The Everton midfielder, who could leave Goodison Park after failing to sign a contract extension, was again the notable absentee when Ronald Koeman’s 25-man squad flew to Enschede on Monday. The 23-year-old has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur and several other Premier League clubs having entered the final 12 months of his contract, although Everton insist the player’s absence is because of a groin injury that has required treatment and forced him to miss the visit to Tanzania last week.

Koeman’s team play friendlies against Twente on Wednesday and Genk in Belgium on Saturday. The new arrivals Jordan Pickford, Sandro Ramírez and Cuco Martina – who signed a three-year deal with Everton on Monday – have travelled. The former Sunderland goalkeeper, the club’s record signing in a deal worth £30m, and the former Málaga striker Sandro met their new team-mates for the first time before the flight on Monday having been granted extended leave after playing in the European Under-21 Championship.

Martina, 27, has joined Everton on a free following the expiry of his contract at Southampton, where he played under Koeman and made 36 appearances over two seasons. The Dutch defender’s versatility was a factor in Koeman’s decision to sign him for a second time, with Everton’s competitive season starting next week with a Europa League third‑round qualifier.

The Everton manager said: “Cuco Martina is an experienced player who can perform in different positions at the back, which is important. It’s also important, with the number of games we will face in the coming campaign, that we have strength and competition in the squad.

“I brought the player to Southampton, so I know what he can do for us here and this is why I’ve now brought him to Everton. He is a player who will strengthen our squad and be able to play in different positions when that’s needed, too.”

The Argentina defender Ramiro Funes Mori has also missed the Dutch trip with a knee injury that was sustained last season and could require surgery.

Guardian