Everton hope a long-term deal for Ross Barkley will ward off interested suitors.
The Guardian says Barkley's emergence at Everton is to be rewarded with a second contract in 12 months as David Moyes looks to secure the richly talented midfielder on a new long-term deal.
The Everton youngster signed the first professional contract of his career three days after his 17th birthday last December, a two-and-a-half year deal that was the maximum period he could sign for at the time.
At 18, however, there are no such limitations and Everton intend to hand Barkley - who has only three first-team starts to his name yet has already been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea - a long-term contract on improved terms.