Everton happy to let playmaker leave but want £50m – report

Rob McCarthy

Everton will listen to offers for Ross Barkley this summer but want £50m for the England midfielder, according to reports.

The Toffees accept that they can do no more following lengthy contract talks with the 23-year-old, who is reportedly refusing to sign despite being offered £100,000-a-week.

Chairman Bill Kenwright is said to have been working for more than a year on trying to get one of the club’s homegrown talents to commit his future but has now given up his hopes.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman has now turned his attention to finding a suitable replacement for Barkley, who will be out of contract next summer and allowed to leave on a free, despite the club’s board still holding out slim hopes that he might stay, according to the report in the Daily Mirror.

Manchester United and Tottenham have both been strongly linked with a move for the playmaker but may now be put off by the asking price, with both having been prepared to pay nearer £30m.