Ross Barkley

Everton boss Ronald Koeman admits he has doubts over whether Ross Barkley will commit his future to the club.

The England midfielder has just over a year left on his current deal and several months ago Koeman set a deadline of the end of the season for the 23-year-old to re-sign or be sold.

Koeman has reiterated the club needs to have an answer by next weekend - when Everton finish their Premier League campaign at Arsenal.

However, the Dutchman is by no means confident there will be a successful outcome and has already started looking at replacements in offensive positions.

“It is still one week. Time for him to decide,” said Koeman ahead of Friday’s visit of Watford.

“The board has been working a long time to sign Ross for him to stay for a longer period but it is up to the player.

“But we don’t wait till August. Next weekend we need an answer.

“If we go on holiday we need to know. Either he accepts the contract or we sell the player.

“But if you need so much time then you have doubts.

“I like to work with players who like to stay. We are already trying to get players in for next season in the front positions.

“It is up to the player and he needs to make a decision.”

One player who is due to sign a new contract is Kevin Mirallas, after chairman Bill Kenwright broke the news at the club’s end-of-season awards ceremony on Tuesday.

Asked whether a conclusion to the deal was close, Koeman said: “Yes. Normally it is because we have the agreement with the player and that is good because he is a really good player.

“I spoke to him and we need more productivity from him.”

The other player whose future remains in the balance is striker Romelu Lukaku, who has told the club he will not be signing an extension to his existing contract. The Belgium international has two years left on his deal but has been linked with a move back to Chelsea and a switch to Manchester United.

Lukaku won both player of the season and the players’ player award on Tuesday and, in his acceptance speech, he thanked Koeman for helping him improve after admitting he was “not always an easy guy”.

“He is not so difficult. He knows what he needs to improve,” said Koeman.

“I think he improved in several aspects in his play. We know his big quality is in finishing – I can’t make him better in that but I can make the player better in other aspects.”