Ronald Koeman admits that Gareth Barry could leave Everton

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Everton midfielder Gareth Barry is expected to have a reserve role to play this season.

Ronald Koeman has admitted to the Liverpool Echo that he would allow Gareth Barry to leave Everton, if the midfielder became unhappy.

Barry looks likely to play a reserve role for Everton this season, with Koeman’s midfield options very strong.

Barry is behind Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye and Tom Davies in the pecking order at Goodison Park.

And Koeman admits that if Barry does request a move, in the search of more game time, he would be willing to allow the 36-year-old to leave.

“It depends. If players are unhappy…Gareth is a great professional and I’m happy if he will stay but if he will like to move, OK, we will see what happens. I don’t know,” the Dutch boss said, when asked if Barry could leave this summer.

“At the moment we don’t have to make that decision.”

Barry was an integral part of Koeman’s plans at Everton last season, with the veteran midfielder playing regularly, and the former Southampton manager has always previously suggested that he wanted to keep the ex-Aston Villa star.

The Liverpool Echo suggest that Barry will have no shortage of suitors, if Everton do put him up for sale, with a number of clubs interested in taking the former England international.

Everton got their season off to a winning start at the weekend, with Barry watching from the sidelines.

The Toffees beat Stoke City 1-0, with Wayne Rooney’s heading the goal which proved to be the difference between the two sides.