According to The Daily Mail, Everton are set to offer attacking midfielder Ross Barkley a new 'long-term' contract at Goodison Park.

What's the word?

Per the source, Ronald Koeman is ready to start the 'second phase' of his redevelopment of the Merseyside club, the first being the Toffees' recruitment during the summer window - bringing in the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Enner Valencia and Ashley Williams.

The second phase is to tie the key players he inherited from Roberto Martinez down to new long-term contracts, starting with Ross Barkley. It's added the club also want to agree terms with Romelu Lukaku, who suggested earlier this week that he turned down a move to Juventus during the summer to stay at Goodison Park.

Why Now?

Having managed to fend off potential suitors during the summer, Everton may feel they're now in a stronger position to offer Barkley a new deal without having negotiations disrupted by tabloid rumours and even official transfer bids. It's much easier to convince a player to stay once the temptation of signing for another club is removed from the equation.

Likewise, the attacking midfielder's contract expires in two years' time, meaning the Toffees could be caught between a rock and a hard place if they don't agree extended terms by next summer. With one year remaining, players can hold clubs to ransom and essentially force a move away, whilst valuations tend to drop dramatically. On both fronts, Robin van Persie's controversial switch to Manchester United in summer 2012 is the most obvious example.

How important is Ross Barkley to Everton?

He may have missed out on a place in Sam Allardyce's first England squad but Barkley is a phenomenal talent, and featured in all 38 of Everton's Premier League fixtures last season. The attacking midfielder has consistently improved since making his debut in 2011 and still aged just 22, there's massive scope for further improvement. Here's a quick look at his progress in the Premier League, courtesy of Squawka:

How far can Barkley go?

It's perhaps lesser-known that Ross Barkley could be much further along his development right now, had it not been for his horrific leg break whilst on international duty with England's U19s back in October 2010 - when he was on the verge of breaking into Everton's first-team as a teenager.

Nonetheless, glowing endorsements of the 22-cap international aren't hard to find. Former Three Lions gaffer Roy Hodgson and former Toffees boss Roberto Martinez have both compared him to Paul Gascoigne, with Barkley sharing the England icon's ability to surge through the middle of the park with direct dribbling and find the net from long range. You can certainly see what they're getting at:

Currently, however, Barkley has a bit of catching up to do - at least, in terms of goalscoring. His career record stands at 21 goals in 134 league appearances. Gazza scored that many in just 92 league outings for Newcastle, before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 1988.

So, much like 'Gazza', should Barkley leave his current club to advance his career? Or should he continue his development at Goodison Park? You decide!

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