Ross Barkley will miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery on a groin problem that has curtailed his pre-season with Everton. His team-mate Ramiro Funes Mori, meanwhile, could miss the bulk of the new campaign owing to complications in his recovery from a knee operation.
Barkley has missed Everton’s trips to Tanzania and the Netherlands and is expected to be sidelined for four weeks. The midfielder will miss the club’s Europa League third-round qualifier plus the Premier League opener against Stoke City, though whether he would have featured in Ronald Koeman’s plans is doubtful given the stand-off over his new contract.
The 23-year-old, whose purchase is being considered by Tottenham Hotspur but not at Everton’s £50m asking price, would only be back in action for the final two weeks of the transfer window with a four-week recovery.
A club statement confirmed: “Ross Barkley underwent surgery today on his groin, with the injury having prevented him from travelling with the Everton team last week to Tanzania and this week to Holland. The surgery has been a success and he is expected to be able to return to play in approximately four weeks.”
Funes Mori has been dealt a significant setback, having been ruled out for between six and nine months. The Argentina central defender missed the final two months of last season after undergoing surgery on a knee ligament injury sustained on international duty. Complications in his rehabilitation have resulted in a second operation and he could be out until April.
Everton’s statement added: “Ramiro Funes Mori has had a problem within his knee and has undergone further surgery in Barcelona which will require prolonged rehabilitation of a minimum of six to nine months. The defender tore his meniscus while on duty with Argentina in March.”
