Everton vs Liverpool - Everton contract talks with Barkley not an immediate priority

Posted Saturday, December 17, 2016 by PA

Everton boss Ronald Koeman is planning contract talks with Ross Barkley in the new year but insists tying the playmaker down to a new deal is not a pressing priority.

Leighton Baines, Gareth Barry and young defender Mason Holgate all signed new terms on Friday, keeping them at the club until 2018, 2019 and 2021 respectively.

Barkley's contract runs out in the summer of 2018 and the 23-year-old has recently been linked with a move to Tottenham.

Koeman said: "We know it's about 18 months of contract. I think it's not the priority now. Of course, in the new year, we will have talks about his situation and about his future. But the priority now is playing and winning and we will see what happens in January."

Barkley has had a difficult start to life under Koeman, who has publicly challenged the England man to do better and left him out of the side for the recent games against Manchester United and Watford.

But Barkley was back in the team against Arsenal on Tuesday and produced an encouraging display in the second half, setting up the winner for Ashley Williams.

Koeman insisted there has been no contact from Spurs, saying of the rumours: "I'm not interested in what you write about the futures of players because there's nobody knocking on the door."

Meanwhile Everton will be without captain Phil Jagielka for Monday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison Park.

The defender was sent off late on in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Arsenal and must serve a one-match ban, but veteran midfielder Gareth Barry is available after sitting out the midweek clash.

Winger Yannick Bolasie has had his first knee operation but faces more surgery before beginning the long road back.

Jurgen Klopp is monitoring Daniel Sturridge to see if he can coax a cameo out of the England striker on Monday.

Sturridge has missed the Reds' past five matches with a calf injury but stepped up his recovery during the week and, with the short trip to Goodison Park not taking place until Monday evening, has time to prove he can play some part.

Klopp has already given up hope of the 27-year-old being at the peak of his powers but believes he could fill the role of super-sub provided he is passed fit for duty.

"He cannot be 100 per cent but having Daniel Sturridge for 20 minutes would be fantastic," he said.

"If he is available he will be involved.

"Until now he's made four pitch sessions with the rehab coach. It would be nice if he could be part of my department...the pitch training that I'm responsible for.

"Maybe we can involve him today."

Sturridge scored in Klopp's only other experience of the famous derby, a 4-0 win at Anfield in April that extended a formidable record in the fixture.

Liverpool have lost only once in the past 19 Premier League instalments and not since October 2011.

Like Sturridge, midfielder Emre Can will be given a chance to push for inclusion in the matchday squad after missing two games with a knee ligament niggle.

The chances of Joel Matip (ankle) - arguably the side's most impressive defender this season - featuring are essentially over though.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will again start in place of the dropped Loris Karius and midfielder Marko Grujic remains sidelined with a tendon injury.