Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has claimed that Wayne Rooney’s return to Everton is likely to spell the end for Ross Barkley.
The midfielder seems to be in limbo at Goodison Park after manager Ronald Koeman delivered numerous public ultimatums regarding his future.
The Dutchman told the media towards the end of last season that Barkley needs to sign a new contract this summer or be sold.
As it stands, the 23-year-old has not put pen to paper on a fresh deal, which leaves him with one year remaining on his current terms.
Tottenham Hotspur have been the main club linked to him, with recent reports in The Sun claiming that the North London outfit remain keen on signing the England international.
The same newspaper stated this week that Rooney is on the verge of returning to Goodison Park on a two-year deal worth £250,000 per week.
The 31-year-old forward, who has at times been used in a midfield position over the last few seasons, came through the ranks at Everton before joining Manchester United in 2004.
While Rooney’s arrival would be huge news on Merseyside, Warnock feels that Barkley will be forced out as a result.
He told talkSPORT:
“Yes, I do [think it’s the end of Barkley’s Everton career]. I had Ross at Leeds, and he’s an unbelievably good pro. He comes in first thing and he takes free kicks until it goes dark, he trains all the time. But as a manager you can’t really find a system you can trust him in.
“It’s a really difficult with him, because he still loves to turn and take players on in his own half and often loses it. He hasn’t got the responsibility in his make-up regarding as and when to do it, he just does it when he feels like it. I don’t think you can change him in that.
“I think he’d be a super player for a club like Spurs. I think he could be a top five player, but for a certain manager.”
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