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Barry targets summer deal with Everton

Midfielder enjoying life at Goodison Park

Gareth Barry has described how much he is enjoying his time at Everton after joining the club on loan from Manchester City in September and has indicated that he is hoping to play his way to a permanent move to Goodison next summer.

The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season and can open pre-contract negotiations with potential suitors in January but he says that, for now, his only focus is on playing for the Blues.

Everton have suggested that they will discuss the midfielder's future in the summer and that seems to suit Barry who has been in terrific form since making the switch from the Etihad Stadium where he had seen his first-team opportunities diminish under new boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Speaking of his upcoming availability, the former Aston Villa man told evertonfc.com: "Personally, it's a really strange situation, I've never had it before. In January you can start discussing your future for next season but I think [Everton] made it clear that they would probably like to discuss things at the end of the season and if I put in fantastic performances from here until then, then that puts me in a good position."

That is good news for Evertonians who have been impressed with how quickly Barry has settled at Goodison and how effectively the team has played with him as the linchpin in midfield — Roberto Martinez's side have yet to lose when the England international has started.

"I'm really enjoying it," continued Barry, who revealed tentative interest in his services from Arsenal prior to the summer transfer deadline, "and I'm as excited now as I was when I signed because I've got a feel for the Club, I'm enjoying working under the manager and the coaching staff here, the training is fantastic and the style of the play the manager wants us to play is really enjoyable, so I'm really excited for the rest of the season.

"A lot of people have spoken to me and said you could have so many options going into your last year but, for me, now it's just about playing for Everton, keeping a good run of form going and taking it from there."

Martinez has been thrilled with the impact his deadline-day acquisition has made and reaffirmed that the club won't start discussing a permanent contract for Barry until the end of the campaign.

"It's very, very clear with Gareth," the manager said. "All we wanted at the beginning of the season was to allow Gareth to have a big, big role at Everton.

"First, guiding the youngsters through and helping them along, especially Ross Barkley and James McCarthy playing in the centre of midfield.

"Then, after that, it was for Gareth to carry on with the level that he's shown in the last few years. I still think he's a very, very experienced player but he's at a very young age in terms of the way that he is physically,"

"It's a situation that I want to just let go. I want Gareth to carry on enjoying his football and then at the end of the season it will be time to sit down and assess how his season has gone. I couldn't be happier with the manner that Gareth has been performing and (he's been) setting incredible, incredible levels."

 

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