Phil Neville has accused Everton boss Ronald Koeman of trying to force Ross Barkley out of Goodison Park
Former Everton skipper has looked at how Koeman treats Barkley and Romelu Lukaku who has rejected a new deal at Goodison Park and can only reach one conclusion
PHIL NEVILLE has sensationally claimed Everton boss Ronald Koeman is trying to force Ross Barkley out of Goodison Park.
The England international will go into the final year of his contract next season, and Koeman has told Barkley to sign a new deal, or be sold this summer.
The Toffees boss went as far as giving the 23-year-old a deadline of last week to resolve the issue.
But former Everton skipper Neville is adamant Koeman simply wants Barkley gone from Merseyside.
Neville told talkSPORT:“I keep listening to Ronald Koeman, and there is an obsession with talking about Ross Barkley every time he does a press conference.
“It looks to me as if he wants him to leave, you don’t just keep saying ‘he has a week to decide’, ‘tomorrow I’ll issue a statement’.
"It seems to me as if he is probably trying to push Ross out of the door, that is what it looks like from the outside.”
Neville's comment echo the SunSport exclusive last December, stating Koeman had lost his patience and was ready to dump Barkley in January.
Romelu Lukaku, who has two years left on his deal, and has rejected a new contract at Everton, but it is Barkley who has been criticised more often by Koeman.
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The Everton boss insisted he dropped Barkley for the defeat at Arsenal for 'tactical' reasons, but immediately brought him on after Laurent Koscielny was sent off.
Neville continued: “I am sure if you are a top four, top six club now you will be thinking you can get him relatively cheap - £20m-£30m with a year left on his contract.
“That, in this day and age, is a snip so I think he has probably played his last game for Everton.”