Everton star Ross Barkley is keen to leave the club this summer in a bid to improve his international chances, according to the Sun.
The England international hasn’t featured for the Three Lions since a second half substitute appearance in a 2-1 win over Australia last May, despite making Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad.
Barkley, meanwhile, was called up by Gareth Southgate for meetings with Germany and Lithuania earlier in the year, yet failed to make it onto the pitch.
The 23-year-old has just one year left to run on his current contract at Goodison Park and is reluctant to put pen to paper on a new deal and he could be frozen out by manager Ronald Koeman if he doesn’t leave the Toffees this summer.
Tottenham had been credited with an interest in Barkley, yet appear to have backed down in the race to sign the youngster, while Manchester United have been linked with a move for the Everton ace.
And Barkley is looking to leave the Toffees this summer in order to make the step up to a top-6 side ahead of Russia 2018.
Everton’s capture of Davy Klaassen pushed Barkley down the pecking order under Koeman, while the club’s continued pursuit of Gyfli Sigurdsson suggests the Toffees boss is preparing for life without the talented attacker, who made more key passes (84) than any other player aged 23 and under in Europe's top five leagues last season.
