Sam Allardyce believes that Ross Barkley has put his Everton career in jeopardy.
Barkley’s long-term future at Goodison Park remains clouded in uncertainty as he continues to resist a new deal ahead of his current contract expiry next summer.
Chelsea and Tottenham both retain an interest in the England international, with the reigning Premier League champions failing to tie up a deadline day switch.
The 23-year-old can negotiate a free transfer with a new club from January, potentially leaving Everton out of pocket for their academy graduate’s departure.
But Allardyce, currently among the forerunners to succeed Ronald Koeman as Blues manager, believes Barkley’s stance risks his future playing prospects.
“It’s all about money, isn’t it? ‘Everton are not offering me (Barkley) enough money, my boyhood club that have given me the opportunity to play in the first-team’.
“I think they (Everton) made him, they said at the time, the best offer they could possibly make him, which he refused or rejected on the basis that his agent is probably saying, ‘I can get you more than that somewhere else’.
“And that didn’t materialise in the end.
“A move to Tottenham, I believe, broke down on the basis of the money – that they wouldn’t pay the demand from Ross Barkley’s agent at the time and he’s left in limbo.
“And he’s putting his career in severe danger here. I think he’s injured at the moment but if Chelsea don’t come in, or they don’t offer the sort of money they’re looking for, what does he do then?
“Football is a very short career and this promising young player, his career is stalled at the moment. He’s a football man.
“He needs to get back to playing football, and wherever the contract is and whatever the money is, surely it’s going to be enough this time to either stay at Everton or move on.”
Everton remain committed to finding a solution over Barkley’s future, with caretaker David Unsworth pledging to discuss the situation with the player.