Everton have failed to make a decision on Ross Barkley’s future, leaving Manchester United and Spurs interested.
According to David Maddock of the Daily Mirror, Ross Barkley is set for an exit from Everton this summer as the club has failed to meet the deadline to decide on the England international’s future.
After Everton’s 3-1 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates, manager Ronald Koeman said in the press conference that the club would make an announcement in the following 24 hours, but that has not happened.
It is understood that, much like Romelu Lukaku, who is set for an exit in the summer, Barkley too wants to move to a bigger club in order to play Champions League football and take his game to the next level.
However, the club are unwilling to part ways with two of its prized assets as they look for a summer of heavy investment to help them break into the top six in the 2017/18 season. Chairman Bill Kenwright is also doing all he can to keep hold of the Liverpool-born midfielder.
He has put forth a £100,000-per-week contract on the table for Barkley to sign, which is the biggest deal in the history of the club. The club expected a decision to be made by the midfielder after the Arsenal game, but apparently that has not happened.
This has put Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur on high alert as they will be looking to capitalise on Barkley’s uncertainty and lure him away from Goodison Park in the summer. With one year left on his contract, a bid in the region of £20 million may be enough to prise him away.
Still only 23, Barkley has the potential to grow leaps and bounds and become one of England’s finest attacking midfielders. He has shown glimpses of his brilliance at Everton, and now the time has come for him to take a step up.
Tottenham Hotspur’s second-placed finish will see them participate in the Champions League next season while Manchester United will be looking to confirm their berth in the competition by beating Ajax in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
Signing Barkley would give either of the clubs a budding homegrown talent, looking to showcase his skills on the continental stage. He is the kind of player who will thrive with quality names around him, and could be a vital signing for any club that gets its hands on him.
