Three potential destinations for outcast Everton midfielder Ross Barkley next season

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One man with a massive question mark over his future heading into the summer transfer window is Everton’s Ross Barkley, with the midfielder seemingly edging closer to an imminent exit.

With tensions fraying between the 23-year-old and the Toffees’ boss Ronald Koeman towards the end of the season, Barkley was left out of the match-day side for the defeat to lowly Swansea City last month.

Since then, Koeman gave Barkley the ultimatum of signing a new contract before the close of the season or face finding a new club – and with a fortnight passing since the deadline, no deal has been made.

It seems fairly inevitable then that the England midfielder will be playing his football away from Goodison Park next season, and some of England’s top clubs are now circling in looking for a move.

The Boot Room looks at three potential destinations for Barkley should he leave Goodison Park…

Tottenham

The leading front-runners if reports in the Evening Standard are anything to go by, Tottenham have been singled out as the prime destination for Barkley should he in fact leave Goodison Park this year.

Reports of a club-record deal of over £30 million have been flying around in recent weeks, reports that have been fuelled by Ronald Koeman’s contract ultimatum that the 23-year-old has ignored.

There’s no doubt that Barkley has always carried the potential to blossom into one of England’s best young players, and it could just be that a change of scenery and a patient manager is needed to set him straight again – in Mauricio Pochettino, there’s arguably no better man to help his development.

Working alongside fellow England international Dele Alli could also provide the big boost that he needs not just for his domestic career but to break back into Gareth Southgate’s England squads.

He would have to adapt to a new position at White Hart Lane though, with Alli’s position in the number ten not likely to change, and this would provide a test of how determined Barkley is as a footballer.

Yet with Alli, Christian Eriksen, and Heung-Min Son all fairly undroppable after their exceptional seasons, Barkley’s career could take a downwards spiral if he’s reduced to just a bench player at Spurs.

Arsenal

Perhaps Tottenham’s biggest rivals in securing the signature of Barkley will come from their North London neighbours Arsenal, with the Daily Mail alleging that Arsene Wenger is becoming interested.

With the future of talisman Alexis Sanchez still in the balance, and with it announced that Wenger will sign a two-year extension, the onus is now on the Frenchman to invest and improve his squad.

And he could do worse than starting with the signing of Barkley, with the Gunners crying out for some strength in depth in midfield as they look to challenge back at the top of the table next year.

His dogged attitude in the midfield, allied with his ability to break out of the midfield and architect an attack, could also allow the dangerous Sanchez to play his football a lot further up the pitch.

With England teammates Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck in the ranks at the Emirates, it wouldn’t take too long for the 23-year-old to settle into life in London either.

Yet it’s been made fairly clear that Barkley is looking to challenge for the big titles and get his England career back on track, and Arsenal may struggle to beat fierce rivals Tottenham to this one.

West Ham

The latest Premier League side to reportedly show interest in Barkley is Slaven Bilic’s West Ham side, with the Daily Star reporting that the Hammers are considering a bid for the England midfielder.

It is believed that West Ham have the potential funds to meet Barkley’s financial demands of around £140,000-a-week – a weekly wage that is almost double his existing package earnt at Goodison Park.

It’s clear to see where Barkley could fit in at the Hammers too, with part of West Ham’s struggles last season coming with a lack of creativity in the final third since the shock exit of Dimitri Payet.

Although Manuel Lanzini has done an extremely good job taking the playmaker role upon himself it hasn’t been enough to lift the Hammers up the table – and this is a role where Barkley could excel.

Playing alongside Lanzini, and just behind the likes of Mikhail Antonio and Andy Carroll, the threats that West Ham carry could cater well to Barkley’s solid range of short passing and accurate crosses.

After signing Pablo Zabaleta from Manchester City last week – and with reported interest in Kelechi Iheanacho growing – Bilic is looking at making statement signings ahead of a much-improved season.

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