Friday 12 May 2017 23:50, UK
Everton boss Ronald Koeman says the board have done everything they can to keep Ross Barkley after he scored the winner against Watford.
Barkley's future at Goodison Park is uncertain with Koeman telling the midfielder to make a decision soon or face being sold.
But despite the speculation, Barkley starred in Everton's 1-0 at home to Watford, scoring the only goal of the game after 56 minutes.
Koeman says he hopes that Barkley will commit his future to Everton, with team-mate Kevin Mirallas doing so earlier on Friday - the Belgian penning a three-year contract extension.
"I can understand for the players that it's a difficult situation, but football is also sometimes a business," Koeman told Sky Sports after the match.
"You know if you have players in the team who go into the last year of the contract, you need to do business.
"I still hope that he will sign that good offer which the board made, and that he will continue. We did everything. The board did everything with the offer they made for him."
Barkley continues to be linked with a move to Manchester City as reports suggest the England international wants to play Champions League football.
But after speaking to Barkley himself, Koeman admitted that playing in Europe's premier competition was the aim of all his players and staff.
"I spoke to the player, I can't do more. He needs to decide his future is. In Everton or away from Everton," Koeman added.
"I don't know [what he will decide] at the moment. The reason why it takes so long is maybe that the player will doubt about his future and everybody has the own ambition to play Champions League football.
"All the players of Everton, including the manager, would like to continue into making the next step. And what we did this season to make it be better the next.
"He can be part of that, if he doesn't like to part of that - then okay."
