Barkley may have already found a club: Allardyce

Bengaluru, December 5: Everton manager Sam Allardyce has expressed his desire to keep midfielder Ross Barkley at the club past this summer, but, admitted the fact that the English international may have already found a club.

The England midfielder is yet to make an appearance this season due to an injury he picked up in pre-season and his current contract is set to expire in six months.

The Merseysider's have already offered the 24-year-old another contract to remain at his boyhood club however, it was widely known he would not like to commit his future at Goodison Park.

In the Summer, it was reported that Chelsea were close to a deal for Barkley while Tottenham Hotspur were also believed to have made an approach. But the 23-year-old, made a last minute u-turn and decided to stay with the Toffies.

And now again with the winter transfer window fast approaching, the stories with the possibilities of a transfer have arrived again.

The 23-year-old, who is recovring from a hamstring tear, returned to light training recently and is now expected to be available for selection once again before the turn of the year.

But Allardyce has admitted that the player's mind may already be set on a move away from the club and he thinks he can do nothing about it.

Allardyce told Sky Sports: "I'd like to think we can keep Barkley, unless somebody's already done a deal for him.

"I am not daft enough to know in this game that those words and phone calls might not have already gone on.

"If we could get Ross Barkley to stay then nobody would be more delighted than me. Whether that is a possibility I do not know.

"For me it's about getting him back in the squad first and seeing where we are from there."

The attacking midfielder had recorded decent numbers last season where he scored five goals and made eight assists in 36 Premier League appearances.