Tottenham Hotspur have held a long-term interest in signing Everton midfielder Ross Barkley.
According to the Daily Express, Ronald Koeman has told Ross Barkley that he will not be allowed to simply see out his contract at Everton.
Barkley has missed Koeman’s deadline to sign a new deal at Goodison Park, and now looks set to leave Merseyside.
Everton are planning on bringing in both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaassen this summer, which is set to move Barkley way down the pecking order.
And Everton are not prepared to allow Barkley to leave on a free next summer, as he will be entitled to do.
Everton have so far been adamant that they will only sell Barkley for £50 million, which has put Tottenham Hotspur off making a bid for the England international.
Spurs are said to be waiting for Everton to reduce their asking price on Barkley (Telegraph), and Daniel Levy may just get his wish.
If Everton are not happy with Barkley seeing out his contract, then Spurs are in the position of power when it comes to negotiating.
Tottenham know they will have a chance to land Barkley on a free in a year’s time, so the pressure is on Everton to reach an agreeable price.
And although a transfer to Spurs is still some way off for Barkley, Everton’s stance could play right into Levy’s hands as the transfer window progresses.
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