Tottenham coy on Ross Barkley deal due to ongoing hamstring injury leaving only Chelsea interested with £25million bid
Everton want £50million for the English midfielder but his contract situation and injury record has left him short of suitors
ROSS BARKLEY could be stuck at Everton with Tottenham pulling out of deal for the Goodison outcast due to his ongoing hamstring problem, according to reports.
The midfielder has snubbed a new deal at the Toffees so manager Ronald Koeman went out and replaced him with attackers like Davey Klassen, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney.
Everton’s wealthy new owners were hoping to demand £50million for the occasional England playmaker but the Standard claim his fitness is now a major stumbling block.
Barkley’s lack of form and months left on his contract mean potential suitors like Spurs and Chelsea are refusing to pay big money for the 23-year-old who could be ruled out until January.
The playmaker scored just five Premier League goals last season despite playing as the second striker behind dream foil Romelu Lukaku.
And Koeman hooked the one-time whizz-kid in 13 of his 32 top-flight starts as his faith in the forward started to wane.
Antonio Conte maintains interested in Barkley but his Chelsea bosses are only willing to part with £25m.
At the end of last season, when Koeman was asked if he was preparing for life without the previously untouchable star, he said: “Yes, 100 per cent.
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“I knew this already from the end of last season.
“We made a really good offer to him to sign a new contract, he declined that contract and told me that he is looking for a new challenge.
“OK, he is not in Everton’s future any more. It is his decision. I need to respect that and see what happens.
“He had his groin surgery last week and it will take three or four weeks to be back. His personal situation is not so difficult.
“It is really clear. I am looking to other players, that is my priority and not Ross, with all respect because it is his decision. Everybody knows what the situation is. That is enough.
“I don’t talk any more about this situation, we will see what happens. He told me at the end of last season [that he wants to leave].
“He has one more year on his contract and we work with respectful people.
“And after his surgery, if he is back for training, he will be part of the first-team sessions.”
