Everton midfielder Ross Barkley will not try to force a move away from Goodison Park this summer, according to The Telegraph.

What's the story?

Romelu Lukaku's future at the Merseyside outfit has dominated headlines over the past 24 hours, but there is another contract situation yet to be resolved.

Barkley will be in the final year of his deal when the 2017-18 season rolls around, but indications from manager Ronald Koeman are that the club want him to stay put.

The Mirror reported last week that Tottenham Hotspur have made the midfielder a top target in their summer transfer wishlist.

However, The Telegraph claims that Barkley is not taking notice of the rumoured interest in him and is happy now that he has won a regular spot back in Koeman's team.

Is keeping Barkley crucial?

With rumours swirling around that Lukaku could be on his way out of the Goodison Park exit gates, ensuring that Barkley remains is crucial for the club.

The England international is arguably one of the Merseyside outfit's best players, and if they want to start breaking into the top six, they need all the top talent possible.

From The Telegraph's report, it seems that Barkley is by no means desperate to move on, perhaps partly because he has become a crucial member of Koeman's team and also because Everton are his boyhood club.

If progress is being made, it is highly likely that Barkley will want to be spearheading it rather than moving on elsewhere.

However, if Lukaku leaves, it may call into question Everton's ambitions, which could have a knock-on effect when it comes to the other players.

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