Everton lost 3-1 away at Arsenal to end their Premier League campaign.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman
Everton manager Ronald Koeman has told The Independent that he will speak to the club’s board on Monday in order to discuss Ross Barkley’s future with the club.
The Toffees travelled to the Emirates Stadium earlier today to take on Arsenal in their final league game of the season, and the campaign ended with disappointment after a 3-1 defeat.
Hector Bellerin put Arsenal in front before Laurent Koscielny was sent off for the Gunners, but Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 to the hosts after some static Everton defending.
Romelu Lukaku did pull a goal back from the penalty spot for Arsenal, but Aaron Ramsey made it 3-1 in the latter stages of the clash to give Arsene Wenger’s men all three points.
Everton’s Leighton Baines and Gareth Barry look dejected
The result means that Everton end the season with just four points from the last five league games of the season, but it has largely been a positive first term in charge for Ronald Koeman.
A seventh-placed finish is an improvement on Roberto Martinez’s last two seasons with the club, and Koeman will hope to strengthen his side again this summer – but question marks surround the future of midfielder Ross Barkley.
Everton’s Ross Barkley in action with Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin
Playmaker Barkley, 23, hit five goals and eight assists this season but is out of contract next summer, meaning Everton may be forced to sell before the start of next season, to avoid losing him for nothing in 2018, with manager Koeman unhappy with the situation.
After today’s defeat, Koeman told The Independent that he will in fact speak to the Everton board about Barkley’s future on Monday, and a statement from the club is imminent, leading many to believe that Barkley will indeed be sold this summer.
“I will speak to the board tomorrow and we will make a statement about that,” said Koeman.
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