Ross Barkley has been left out of Everton’s pre-season trip to Tanzania.
A host of Blues players travelled to Dar es Salaam for Thursday’s game with Gor Mahia including new signings Wayne Rooney, Davy Klaassen and Michael Keane.
However Barkley remained on Merseyside as Ronald Koeman’s squad flew out.
Everton claim the midfielder’s omission is due to receiving treatment on a groin injury despite also including a sidelined Yannick Bolasie in their travelling party.
Barkley’s long-term future at Goodison Park remains clouded in uncertainty after he failed to meet Koeman’s end of season deadline to agree a new contract.
The Everton manager had warned Barkley that he ran the risk of being sold without a firm commitment beyond the final 12 months of his existing deal.
Koeman batted away questions on the England international’s future when asked during Rooney’s media unveiling at Goodison on Monday.
Tottenham had previously emerged as a potential destination for Barkley, 23, but that interest appears to have cooled amid his ongoing Everton contract stand-off.
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