Spurs’ hopes of bringing in Everton star Ross Barkley appeared to take a hit when Ronald Koeman was dismissed by The Toffees on Monday.
Ross Barkley’s Everton future looked bleak as long as Ronald Koeman remained charge at Goodison Park.
The sacking of the Dutchman however, who froze out the midfielder at the start of last season and proved unwilling to talk him out of a move away from Goodison Park, cast fresh doubt on the future of a player whose contract expires at the end of the season.
Particularly with reserve team boss David Unsworth, who has been appointed as caretaker boss for the time being, admitting that ‘I would absolutely love him to stay’ before tipping Barkley to become an all-time Everton great, per The Independent.
This, therefore, appeared to cast a cloud over Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of bringing the 23-year-old to North London in the near future.
The Sun reported earlier this week that Spurs had hoped to land Barkley for far less than his initial £35 million price-tag in January, when he will have just six months remaining on his deal at Everton and could be available for just £20 million.
The England international pulled out of a move to Chelsea in on transfer deadline day in August and has a keen admirer in Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino – who will surely now be keeping a close eye on developments at Goodison Park.
Nonetheless, The Times report that it is still expected that Barkley will sign for Tottenham in the New Year – despite the departure of a manager with whom he did not always see eye-to-eye on Merseyside.
Barkley has not made a single appearance all season through injury and will be hoping that a change of scenery can help get a once promising career back on track.
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