That's just putting all the blame onto a player and finding every avenue you can to position the manager as the innocent party. It's not what's happened. Koeman had this lad in his sights from day one. Anyone who doesn't concede that point are kidding themselves. He's not leaving under his own steam, he's been singled out and targeted and it isn't down to cash...the old fall back position of the jilted footy fan who just love to have a Judas to throw stones at.
Ross Barkley will leave because at the end of the day he is a certain type of footballer who doesn't fit this manager's 'style'. All the rest is spin and bollocks to portray the player in a bad light.
You're a weird one Dave.
No, he didn't. And no, I am in no way saying Koeman is 'innocent' or Ross is 'guilty'.
My point is, the one thing that Ross should have really done is clarify with the club whether he was signing before the end of the season.
That's it. Other than that, I'm with @Mikey_Fitzgerald that neither party are really to blame.
Koeman, unlike you, didn't have an agenda, other than to improve Everton as a team.
Part of that was improving Ross, and he did it by making sure every player knew their place.
Ross was dropped - once - for poor form. It wasn't even 'dropping', it was been taken off at half-time after he played awfully.
He started the next game.
He was made captain two weeks previous.
Barkley will only leave if he doesn't sign the deal that's on offer. It'll be a shame, but not the end of the world. I hope he stays.