Ronald Koeman comments on Everton midfielder Ross Barkley’s situation

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Ross Barkley is yet to sign a new contract at Everton.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman was “surprised” with the transfer deadline-day drama that happened with Ross Barkley.

The 23-year-old midfielder has less than 12 months left on his contract, and is yet to sign a new deal.

It is indeed a surprise to everyone as to why Barkley rushed around on deadline day when it has been clear that his future lies away from Goodison Park.

Barkley has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, but the north London club didn’t come up with a concrete offer.

Everton had agreed a deal with Chelsea, but Barkley refused to join the Blues.

As a result, Barkley is back to Merseyside, and is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Koeman found the situation “strange” as Barkley had the whole summer to join a new club, and instead, all the transfer movement occurred on the deadline day.

“He’s an Everton player. I don’t know, it will be strange,” Koeman said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

“And of course it’s in one side a strange situation because everybody knew that he did not sign a new contract at Everton (so) it surprised me all that stuff came in the last day of the transfer window.

“Because if you know a player will not sign a new contract you have the whole summer if you want the player. And that’s strange in my opinion.

“But okay, we will wait until Ross is back fit again. I don’t know, maybe by that time there is something more clear about his future. I don’t know.”

The Dutchman has also aimed a dig at Tottenham who refused to submit an acceptable offer for a player who they have long coveted.

“I know because I have experience with Tottenham when I was managing Southampton,” Koeman added. “In the first season we had a situation with Morgan Schneiderlin and Tottenham. And in my second season the same happened with Victor Wanyama and Tottenham.

“Maybe that is the way they do business, I don’t know. My experience with the two players of Southampton was that it is very difficult, because if there is interest and they like the player but there is not really a bid in to the club, then what happens in Southampton?

“I’m not saying that’s how it is now (with Barkley) but I have to deal with a disappointed player in my team. And that makes it difficult.”