Tottenham Hotspur believe they firmly remain in pole position to land Ross Barkley.

The England international will not be signing a new deal at Everton, and with less than 12-months left on his current deal he looks set to depart.

Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked in recent days, but Tottenham and Mauricio Pochetttino have been long-term admirers of the 23-year-old.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman was quick to make it clear to Barkley at the end of last season that he would be sold if he did not sign a new deal, and that looks set to happen. Koeman has made it known to his bosses that he would not contemplate keeping Barkley and wants them to cash in.

Spurs are confident they will bag Barkley for less than £30million and they are staying patient over their pursuit.

Tottenham are very much favourites to land Barkley, with PaddyPower rating them at 11/10 with him staying at Everton rated at 10/3.

“Anyone trying to sign the Everton playmaker would be Bark-ing up the wrong tree – as we’re now heavily odds-on that he’s joining Spurs,” said PaddyPower spokesman Lee Price.