Everton boss Ronald Koeman has issued a one-week ultimatum to Ross Barkley as the midfielder continues to deliberate over signing a new contract with the club.
Barkley has had a lot to endure from a personal standpoint in recent weeks, and has also found himself chopped and changed in and out of the first-team.
Koeman has previously stated that he is attempting to pressure the 23-year-old into realising his full potential, though with his current deal due to expire at the end of next season, the time is nigh for a decision to be made.
Ronald Koeman on Ross Barkley future: ‘We need an answer before next week. He will either accept the contract or we will sell the player”
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) May 11, 2017
Indeed, asked how long Barkley has to make his mind up, Koeman was refreshingly to-the-point:
Still one week. The board has been working a long time for Ross to stay for a long period.
It’s up to the player but we don’t wait until August. We need an answer if he will accept the contract or we sign a player.
If he leaves it so long you have doubts. I like to work with players who want to stay. I don’t know, it’s up to the player, he needs to make a decision.
Nice and simple. You’ve got a week. Either jump on the trolley or get busy moseying on.
Koeman really is a breath of fresh air when it comes to this kind of thing.