According to reports in The Mirror, Everton star Ross Barkley looks set to leave the club this summer as manager Ronald Koeman looks to replace him with attacking midfielders Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaassen, who could cost more than £60m between them.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Toffees had offered Barkley a new £100,000-a-week contract and the chance to become the highest-paid player in the club’s history, but the England international has refused to sign it.

With just one year remaining on his current deal, the Merseyside outfit would prefer to sell him now rather than lose him for nothing in 12 months’ time.

They look to have made progress in the efforts to replace the 23-year-old too as they are closing in on deals for both Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson and Ajax’s Davy Klaassen.

The Mirror suggests the Welsh outfit want £35m for the Iceland international, while the Ajax skipper could cost £26m.

How did the duo this season?

They were very good.

Sigurdsson almost single-handedly kept the Swans in the Premier League by scoring nine goals, and providing a further 13 assists, in 38 top flight appearances for the strugglers.

Meanwhile, Klaassen helped lead Ajax to the Europa League final and the 24-year-old netted an impressive 20 goals – as well as picking up 12 assists – in 50 outings in all competitions for the Dutch side.

Are they upgrades on Barkley?

While the Everton midfielder has shown glimpses of brilliance during his time at Goodison Park, he has sometimes struggled to do it on a consistent basis – he scored five goals and provided nine assists in 35 Premier League appearances this term.

Judging by the stats and the fact that Klaassen is just a year older than Barkley, Everton may be about to do a brilliant bit of business and make a significant improvement on what they already had in the attacking midfield position.

Where could Barkley go?

The Mirror story suggests that both Tottenham and Manchester United are interested, but it remains to be seen whether they are willing to meet his reported £50m price tag.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, if Barkley – who has failed to impress at times – does go and Everton replace him with Sigurdsson and Klaassen, there would be few saying that they hadn’t significantly improved the squad and it would be a real statement of intent.

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