Koeman remains matter-of-fact over Barkley's future

How much would we get for him with just a year left? £20-30m?

For me we need someone more intelligent in that position, Sigursson would be the one.

James, I like Siggurdsson a lot but he's not as dynamic as Ross. Less likely to beat a man and start a lightning counter. A good passer for sure and strikes the ball beautifully but perhaps his stint at Spurs should be a warning sign?

Probably not. I'd be happy enough if we got him. Though my ideal would be a quick footed, quick thinking Ozil/silva/mahrez/Hazard type.

Unlike Lukaku, we are not being told what Ross is being offered for some reason. If he's being offered 𧴜k plus a week and stalling over signing, you have to question his motives, maybe he's not as loyal as people think, and thinks he can get a better deal elsewhere ?

I won't be unhappy if he signs but equally I won't be gutted if he goes – given £20-30m he's far more replaceable than Lukaku.

If it is ambition, then he needs to take a long look at himself and produce the goods regularly and against superior opposition. I've not once see him change games against these sides.

I'd like him to stay, but he's yet to prove that hrs in the same class as the 10's at the other clubs.

If he does go; he could end up as a Rooney or a Rodwell; it's that tight for me.

As long as we keep the boss for the next 3 years, that is the most important thing.

䀅m will get you an over hyped bell end like Pogba, full of his own piss and importance but able to conjure up unique (and ridiculous) hair cuts and pathetic, choreographed dance routines to celebrate the odd occasion he turns up and scores.

Keep Barkley at all costs, build the team around him, Davies, Holgate, Pennington, Kenny and others and leave buying the big money gobshites to the RS and Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City.

It was less than four months ago that he was saying a new contract offer for Ross was not a priority at that stage and the situation could keep until the summer.

Now there are insinuations about the player "stalling", being "maybe not as loyal as people think", and needing to "take a long look at himself"? Why? Because summer is fast approaching and he has yet to put pen to paper and sign a new contract.

It might help if Koeman could talk about him without almost continually mentioning that Ross is "Improving". He will never willingly praise or acknowledge the level he's at.

As to anyone thinking Sigurdsson would be an improvement to our team, I'd say you should ask Pochettino why he sold him... and why he's continually rumoured to be interested in Barkley. Sigurdsson is at his level having returned to Swansea. Not good enough for Spurs.

As a team, our forwards' movement is not always quick or "Intelligent" enough to benefit from Barkley. Whenever someone does find space or time a run, funny how often Barkley seems to pick them out.

Equally noticeable that now we're better moving the ball through midfield on the floor, as opposed to Koeman's earlier into-the-channels tactics, Barkley has "Improved".

I'd love to hear who people think we can get who's better than Barkley, that will come to Everton, that we can afford. Or should we get a non-enigmatic "Trier" in, whilst we wait for Walsh to unearth a gem that no-one else in the whole football world is aware of?

He frustrates me as he clearly has the lot physically but mentally he's not strong enough and his decision-making is poor.

They were talking on MotD2 last night about building a team around him. I think we've tried that for a few years now and it's failing when it matters most. There are better players more suited to what we need.

It does sound like Ross isn't Koeman's cup of tea.

Interesting summer ahead.

Spurs have Eriksen, Alli, and Kane. We would match that attacking threat with Barkley, Sigurdsson, and Lukaku.

"It was less than four weeks ago that Koeman was casually cracking on that Barkley hadn't yet been offered a contract, but talks were "planned" for the summer. It was less than four months ago that he was saying a new contract offer for Ross was not a priority at that stage and the situation could keep until the summer."

It certainly seems chaotic.

There seems to be a huge amount of time invested in getting Rom to sign his deal, with a more relaxed approach to Ross. Perhaps Ross' up and down form meant Koeman, Walsh and the Board were casual in their attitude to a new deal.

Now that the boy is consistently delivering the goods, it has become a priority for them.

In my book, this is no way to build a team.

I do not see it being that easy to find a replacement and, having found a role for the lad in which he and the team are benefiting, the style will change again once he departs.

Ross' critics will point to a poor derby as a recent reminder of his inconsistency.

I think at 23 he still has to develop and we will miss his best years if he does leave this summer. Form can undulate but its Koeman's job to manage this.

Because Ross is a quiet, unassuming lad I think there might be some bullying going on with him. Ronald needs to keep these things behind closed doors. It doesn't benefit him or the players.

It's a game of high stakes poker. My money's on them both playing for us next season, hopefully with better quality colleagues pushing them further.

He's not that good a player and he's never moved up that notch to be considered world class, and he never will be in the same area as Dele Alli etc.

As regards to Lukaku Everton need to offer the lad the most ridiculous wage offer to keep him. 𧶲,000 plus a week and stop messing around. Koeman stated he was the best striker in the world. If that's the case then we need to match his worth and get on with it.

Yes he can have his quite games and I'm the first to admit this, but he can also do something sublime like yesterday. It would be madness if he went, he's just irreplaceable in my eyes.

But If he wants to leave then start the bidding at 㿔 million. I hope he signs though. I would rather keep Ross than Ronald or Rom.

I'm not saying that Koeman is crap, only that I'm not convinced by his management skills. The fact that there is a big difference between our home form and our away form may be a sign of a systematic problem with Koeman's tactics away from home.

Both Ross and Rom seem to perform best at home, when the tactics are right. Regarding Ross, I don't see him needing to 'improve' as such, but rather returning to the form we know he's capable of. It seems that the right tactics can get the best out of Ross, just like any other player.

So, overall, I suspect Koeman is talking bullshit, not accepting responsibility for his own actions, putting the onus on players to 'improve' when they are already established players. It wouldn't surprise me if Ross is a bit pissed off with this constant 'grade marking' of him by Koeman.

I'm unsure about Koeman's ability as a manager, the jury is out for me. In contrast, I'm 100% sure about Ross's ability as a footballer.

Which other club do you want to play for?
Which other manager do you want to play for?
The one that "rides a cock horse to Banbury Cross"?

Yes we have improved some since he arrived, but not enough to make me think he is the next Howard. His public treatment of Ross, Niasse, Geri has left a bitter taste in my mouth. If he has issues with Ross and other players he should work it out in private, not to the media.

Back to reality I think that they are going.It's sad really especially as Barkley is an Evertonian through and through.

We are pretty good at this selling of our best players though aren't we? Thinking of Ball, Lineker and Rooney for example. Even Howard Kendall

l although that was put of the Latchford deal if I remember correctly.

Gordon, why shouldn't we keep all three? Then add more besides?

The days of the Moyes be grateful for the little that you have are over.

Onward Evertonians!

I suppose the next transfer window (who we get, who leaves, how we perform after) will be the decider for many.

Colin (#39) – true Barkley's player value (in the present market) would be way above 㿅m, but the (short) amount of time left on his contract would affect the present sale price.

We keep him another year (without him signing) and we're basically paying a player who doesn't want to stay and who can walk for nothing in a year.

Link

Yes it's all over the papers that it is Ross. But it says that the incident was not reported to the police. And a reporter says that Everton are looking into it.

But that attacker should be jailed for his actions.

Ross has only a year to go on his contract after this season so that will reflect the offers coming in for him.

He has improved since Christmas and had another good game yesterday, there is still a lot more in his game that he doesn't produce, if he stays with Everton and Koeman he should continue that improvement, if not some other club may reap the benefit in the future. H

e has still to improve his quickness of thought, Tom Davies is twice as fast in this matter, but Ross is still a good player.

I am a huge fan of Barkley, but Alli is at a different level at the moment. It's hard to admit it, but both Spurs and Alli are performing at enviable high levels. It's where Everton and Barkley should aspire to be.

Maybe next season? But only if we buy very well in the summer.

Spurs, for me, are the blueprint. Look at their team and see how many personal battles we win. Not many in my opinion, even with blue tinted specs.

You will be getting some stick at playtime for that one, Eugene

In that context, he is just speaking plain reality, not trying to arm-twist Ross. Having said that, I would be bitterly disappointed if Everton do not get Ross to sign on.

Kind of indicates that we have not progressed since the days when Rooney moved on to a 'bigger' club. We should offer Ross the same salary as what is offered to Lukaku. A statement of intent.

Ross: "My contract's running out in 18 months."
Ron: "We will talk about next summer... IF you deserve one."

Ross: "Looking forward to our summer chat."
Ron: "Sign this now or get out."

Koeman is calling their bluff.

Of course, he could ignore any bids and see out the last year of his deal... A McManaman scenario. Hope not.

I really don't understand why he would leave. I don't really see this 'Koeman doesn't fancy him' stuff either. He plays him regularly, and for the first time in his career, he actually looks consistent, at a club going places.. I don't see a reason for him to leave at all. If he does go, where is going to be better where he plays week in, week out exactly? Tottenham? Don't see it. Ross is the sort of player who needs a team built around him. He isn't an adaptable player. Tottenham have Alli and Kane.

This leads into the assault thing. Whilst I sympathise for what is seemingly an unprovoked attack, I question why he has put himself in the position. Read on Twitter that this will force him out.. Maybe it will. Liverpool isn't London. Moving out of the city, or at least not being seen in bars, is a small sacrifice for the 10-15 years of a career. You go out, you will get attention. SOme will be good natured, but not all will. Mix it will alcohol, even in the more upmarket bars, and some of these knobheads will go too far.

Move to Alderley Edge or something..

I read a few years ago that Everton and Liverpool players prefer to go out in Manchester than in Liverpool as there is less aggro. Troy Deeney was threatened recently (in Birmingham) because he got tired of taking selfies with fans and just wanted to finish his meal.

Love them or hate them they have a right to walk the streets like everyone else.

Our Ross doesn't need to be asked twice to lose his legs.

Dave,

According to who and why does the manager seemingly know nothing about it?

Even when quizzed after the match yesterday about how he envisions things unfurling in the summer (in regards to Barkley's situation), Koeman said "We offer a new contract and then there are two possibilities", not that one has already been offered and is sitting there unsigned.

It's true that when asked in December if Barkley would be offered a new deal, Koeman did say "We know he has 18 months left on his contract, but it is not a priority now. In the New Year, of course we will have talks about his situation and the future. We will see what happens in January."

However, January came and went without so much as a whisper of Ross being offered new terms and, as recently as March, Koeman came out and said contract talks between the club and Barkley "are planned, but I don't think they have started yet"

Later the same month, Koeman said he had a word with Ross about a new contract and Ross gave him no indication he would not sign, but then stressed "it's up to the board to get that contract over the line".

"Sign it or we'll sell you" ... or words to that effect.

This is what happens when you don't get your Mum, Dad and Agent involved or shout your mouth off at internationals. I'd have thought that the lesson would have been learnt after the Niasse incident – keep it in house, not in the Press.

Would Ross be worth keeping, most would say so. Are there persistent doubts about him transitioning to a fully fledged player, yes again I think there is.

Obviously he offers some amazing skills, the cross yesterday was executed perfectly and perhaps more telling quickly and with little thought.

Everton have a clear plan about their summer activity and like it or not Ross needs to decide as they already have a player to either replace him or provide competition for him.

Barkley in return needs to do what's best for him, no recriminations from me if he leaves, just do what makes you happy lad.

My guess is he will be sold, as he lacks the extra dynamic elements to his game which Koeman values, off the ball he still is left wanting, but there have been improvements.

My feelings are betrayed by the last two games, I screamed plenty at Ross on Tuesday and yesterday for slowing the attack down or being ponderous in possession. Whilst limited options available to him can offer mitigation, for me Ross just not laser sharp in the telling moments.

The comparison for Davies goal and Ross' chance summed it up. One was clean, focused and smoothly executed the other a little complacent and careless.

Yes yes, Kasper made a good save, but should never had chance to do so, Ross pleadingly looking at the Lino for offside compounded the whole thing.

Koeman eh!? As much charisma as a rock.

I don't understand your logic. The likes of Pennington is nowhere near ready.

You might be, I'm not.

"Lots of irrelevant points there."

Like pointing out how much overrated players Sissoko and Pogba are? I think it's highly relevant when we're discussing Barkley may be worth.

He's also stating the bleeding obvious when he says "He will be offered a new contract and if he doesn't sign it he'll be sold."

There doesn't HAVE to be anything more to it, or some ulterior motive.

It's common sense that no player with a decent resale value will be allowed to run down his contract and leave on a free.

All Koeman is doing is stating what everyone already knows ffs.

I don't blame Barkley for being ambitious, for trying to get the best deal he can. I certainly don't blame Koeman for playing hardball back. It's not as if we have to be told what goes on in these situations, is it? Game of pier, who blinks first?

Why a 'different attitude' with Lukaku? Two reasons. His contract has two years to run and I'm guessing that Koeman has a view that it's easier to replace a talented and inconsistent midfielder than the league's top scorer.

I can't see Barkley as a regular starter in any of the six teams above us. Can you?

There may only be two options now, but that is entirely Koemans fault. This could have been sorted long ago, but Koeman was playing stupid games and he was playing them very publically.

Now he has painted himself into a corner. Barkley may have his detractors, but he has an army of fans. If he leaves this club due to Koeman's fuckwittery it will be the first nail in "Honest Ron's" coffin.

How can people say Barkley is stalling on a contract that hasn't yet been offered? If Barkley decides to play hard ball and stay put for a year, He will make himself one of the richest young men in sport.

What would soft ollies do then? Take away his locker?

I think either Koeman's hedging his bets as he's not completely convinced by Barkley, or Barkley's hedging his bets as he's not convinced by Koeman. I don't know anything about stuff behind the scenes, which could be a big factor in this.

I think the club has the stronger hand here. We're not the look down the back of sofa club we were a couple of years ago. There's less chance of us feeling 'held to ransom'. I don't think he'll get a regular game with the teams above us and that's why he'll sign another contract with us.

We know it can be done, because we've seen it.

Barkley doesn't have to hold anyone to ransom, he just needs to sit tight. imagine the signing on fee for a twenty four year old international on a free?

Koeman needs to start talking privately to the boy, not publically to the press. He is making a complete fuck of this.

No doubt the club could have sorted this by making a massive offer. Maybe they've taken Ross for granted. Perhaps they don't think he's worth smashing the wage scale. It could be that Koeman/Barkley don't rate each other enough, hence the stand-off.

If I was negotiating, at some point I'd ask his agent which top six club would play him regularly. Perhaps he'd be happier with a big signing on fee playing every 3 or 4 games for Spurs, if they're interested.

Sure, Koeman's doing a bit of grandstanding now. My hunch is that he'd like Ross to stay, but isn't losing any sleep over it, as he thinks he can replace him. He might do that this summer regardless. I keep reading on here that we heed a midfielder who can pick a pass, drive the team forwards and score goals. Do you think Ross is that player?

I think Barkley has a far better chance of becoming that player than Koeman has of becoming a successful manager.

If it came to a choice (which of course it won't), I would bin Koeman and keep Barkley

I wouldn't put money on either being the success we hope they'll be.

Stones left for Man City and was replaced by Williams who is a million miles behind him in every aspect of the modern game.

Next off is Deulofeu, our quickest, trickiest player we've had in years.

Then of course Rom is off, this lad is head and shoulders above anything we've had at the club for decades.

And now Ross, a lad who divides opinions but imo the most creative player we've had since Arteta.

All these players (including Stones) will play for decent sides throughout there careers, all of them are still under 24, and all of them are going yo be gone before hitting there peaks, I can see us looking back for many a year thinking what the fuck happened there.

Never mind Ross only having a year on his deal, and Rom only having two years, the biggest question should be how the fuck has this happened?

How have we allowed our main men to run there contracts down this way. Have we not learned lessons from the likes of the Dan Gosling situation?

We want yo talk the talk, but we have yo learn the fucking basics if we want to walk the walk.

Sign your most important players down to long term deals, and keep your best players happy.

If there on long term deals then we can demand whatever fee we choose, if we let deals run down then we don't hold any cards.

Truth be known the Barkley contract saga is a total joke. He's 23 and been touted about as a 㿔m+ player for years and we allow him to get into this position. Unfortunately we as a club are pathetic.

That leaves Ross; is he going to be the player we all thought he could be? More importantly, does he want to stay here and prove that he can become that player?

This is Koemans doing, I don't for one minute think he has been publically criticising Barkley and privately assuring him of his future at the club. He could easily have instructed the powers that be to draw up a contract.

I don't believe there is a club in the world who would not take Barkley on a free. Hopefully the guy has too much integrity to go down that route.

"Do you know for certain that Ross hasn't been offered a contract ?"

Well yes. . . unless of course honest Ron is lying through his teeth

Clearly the pressure is now on Ross to sign, could be the club or Koeman or both. But its feels like doesn't fancy him, but if he signs then he can be part of the squad.

Personally I get the feeling Ross needs to step up quickly if he wants to stay. As a number 10 less touches more incisive play, better without the ball.

Splinters next year for Ross.

Koeman, when asked the question, should have answered that the club are presently discussing the matter with the players representatives and the matter should be settled in the summer.

Barkley "Not good enough" to many on here. Should he leave, it wouldn't be to just a Premier League club, it will be to a higher placed Prem. club than ourselves, or a top European club. I'd bet money on that. Or are there some still prepared to assert that he'll end up at West Brom/Stoke/Swansea?

Spurs have been strongly and frequently quoted as interested in Barkley, to the point it seems very likely there's some truth in it. Spurs are cited regularly on here as being a team to whose standards we should aspire.

Spurs' manager Pochettino sold Sigurdsson. It seems our club might want Sigurdsson, and many posters here are behind that.

It might be some time til we reach Tottenham's level...

If Barkley doesn't fancy having to fight for his position and wants a guaranteed place, that's his choice. I can't see him getting that by moving.

Remember what happened with John Stones, he's hardly been a massive success at Citeh. Everyone is replaceable, but I do think he will sign again for us.