Koeman confirms Ross Barkley will leave Everton

Ronald Koeman has declared Ross Barkley’s Everton career is over, stating the midfielder ‘100 per cent’ wants to leave Goodison Park.

Barkley - who is recovering from a groin operation that will leave him out for a month - failed to sign a new £100,000 a week deal at the end of last season and Koeman has been making plans without him.

“Yes. 100 per cent,” said Koeman.

“I knew this already from the end of last season. “We made a really good offer to him to sign a new contract, he declined that contract and told me that he is looking for a new challenge. “Okay he is not in Everton’s future any more. It is his decision. I need to respect that and see what happens.

“He had his groin surgery last week and it will take three or four weeks to be back. His personal situation is not so difficult.

“It is really clear. I am looking to other players, that is my priority and not Ross, with all respect because it is his decision.

“Everybody knows what the situation is. That is enough. “I don’t talk anymore about this situation, we will see what happens. He told me at the end of last season (that he wants to leave). “He has one more year on his contract and we work with respectful people.

“And after his surgery, if he is back for training, he will be part of the first team sessions.”

Offers were expected for the 23-year-old midfielder over the summer, but Koeman says none have yet materialised.

“What I heard from the board at the moment is that there is no offer on the table for Ross,” he said.



That leaves Barkley in limbo during his recuperation despite Tottenham and Manchester City monitoring his position. Everton put a £50 million price tag on the player but that has so far proved prohibitive.

Koeman’s comments are the latest underlining the difficult relationship between the player and his coach.

Koeman put his faith in Barkley when making him captain at the start of last season, but when the coach’s standards were not met he was not afraid to voice his disapproval.

The contrast with Roberto Martinez’s eulogising of the player was pronounced – although even Koeman’s predecessor was often criticised for being too lavish in his praise.




Koeman is putting the responsibility firmly on Barkley, a position he has taken since offering the new deal several months ago.

For his part, Barkley was stalling on committing his future because he was unsure of his future role in the side and knew the club was planning to spend heavily on creative midfielders and attacker.

That is something that materialised with the signing of Davy Klaassen and return of Wayne Rooney.

Koeman also still wants Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson, another who would threaten Barkley’s position as a first choice.


Telegraph

I guess that's it for Ross then.

Reading between the lines, I don't think Ronald Koeman rates Ross Barkley, but might not be able to sell him for the price he wants.

Does the fact he was blunt about it today, lower the likely fee any club will pay?