Everton have opened contract talks with Ross Barkley in a bid to ward off interest from the Premier League’s big hitters, according to the Daily Mail.
The Toffees have suffered a poor season, and recognise how key a Barkley stay would be in helping them drive back up the table next season.
The 22-year-old’s contract expires in the summer of 2018 and despite an inconsistent season many of England’s top clubs are interested in signing the midfielder in the coming window.
This campaign has seen many of England’s traditional top clubs underperform and they’ll be looking for big summer signings as they try and take the title back off Leicester City in the new campaign.
But Everton don’t want Barkley to be one of those in new colours by August and are prepared to offer him a £20,000 a week payrise if he stays at Goodison Park and signs a new long-term deal.
He’s been with The Blues for 11 years now and has proven to be the brightest light to emerge from the academy in some time, having made over 130 appearances in the blue shirt.
He’s earned himself an integral role in the England setup and is likely to be a key player in Roy Hodgson’s squad for the European Championships in France in June. Hodgson gave Barkley his senior international break three years ago, and he’s now gone on to make 21 appearances for his country.
With Everton looking on course for their second successive bottom-half finish and Roberto Martinez’s job hanging in the balance, a number of players are being eyed up for big-money moves this summer.
But with the money now available thanks to new majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, Everton want to cling onto their key men as they look to rebuild and fight back next year.
