Bengaluru, July 27: Everton manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed midfielder Ross Barkley is set to leave the club after he rejected a contract extension for a new challenge.

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Barkley has just one year left on his contract at Goodison Park and has been reportedly close to leaving for some months now with the player and club in a contract turmoil.

The Dutch manager has claimed that the England international has made it clear he wants to move and Koeman expects the 23-year-old to leave Everton in this transfer window with Arsenal and Tottenham said to be keen on signing the midfielder.

Koeman while talking in the pre-match press conference said, "Ross told me at the end of the season he wanted another challenge."

"His personal situation is really not so difficult: we made a good offer to him to sign a new contract, he declined that contract and told me that he is looking for a new challenge."

"It is not Everton future any more, it is his decision, I need to respect that and then we will see what happens but what I heard from the board is there is not really an offer on the table for Ross," the Dutch manager said on Barkley's situation.

He added, "It is really clear, I am looking to other players and that is my priority and not Ross, with respect. It is his decision."

"Everyone knows what the situation is and that's enough, I don't talk any more about this."

Barkley is out for a month nursing from the he had surgery on a minor groin problem during the pre season and will miss the start of the new season.

The 23-year-old will be now expecting to respond to training as soon as possible when he has recovered and meantime will be hopeful that his next destination is finalised.

Koeman, whose team will play MFK Ruzomberok in the Europa League third-round qualifying first leg on Friday (July 28) have been one of the most active sides in the transfer window, with the signing of Wayne Rooney, Davy Klaassen, Michael Keane, Jordan Pickford and Sandro Ramirez.

But the Dutch boss insisted he is not yet done over the window and wants to add more players, hinting Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson could replace Barkley.

"Of course we have interest in the player," he said.

"I don't know [if we will go back in for him]."

“We have lost [Ramiro] Funes Mori to a knee injury and I am looking to replace him. We lost Romelu Lukaku and brought in Sandro RamÍrez but we are trying to sign another striker and maybe one more," Koeman concluded.

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