According to reports in The Mirror, Everton have given up hope that midfielder Ross Barkley will sign a new deal but their £50m price tag could prevent him leaving the club this summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the 23-year-old has just a year remaining on his contract at Goodison Park and manager Ronald Koeman had said earlier this month that if he wasn’t going to commit his future to the club, then he would be sold this summer in order to avoid losing him on a free transfer.

With no progression in talks with the England international despite the fact that he has been offered a club-record £100,000-a-week contract, it is now widely accepted that Barkley will go.

The club is willing to listen to offers of £50m and above for the attacking midfielder, but the price tag could put off potential suitors such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

Is he worth that much?

While he has had a decent season, has plenty of potential and time to improve, it would be hard to justify saying he is worth £50m.

Barkley scored five goals and provided a further nine assists in the Premier League as Everton secured a seventh-place finish and Europa League football next term, but the reported fee would make him one of the most expensive players currently playing in the world right now.

Would either pay it?

Tottenham are a club that like to get value for money and with their club-record buys being Erik Lamela and Moussa Sissoko for £30m, it would be a huge ask for them to pay £20m more for Barkley considering he only has a year left on his Everton contract.

That said, Mauricio Pochettino may feel that he could have the potential to make a similar impact to the one Dele Alli has made over time.

Meanwhile, we have seen money is no object to Manchester United but whether they would be willing to take a £50m risk – and it would be a risk – on Barkley seems unlikely when they will want players that can help them compete for the Premier League title and Champions League next season.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, if Everton want to sell Barkley this summer and avoid losing him for nothing they are surely going to have to lower their demands, with both Spurs and United unlikely to pay the asking price.

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