Everton have announced that midfielder Ross Barkley could miss the start of the new Premier League season after undergoing surgery on his groin.
The England international has been absent throughout the Toffees' pre-season programme so far, fuelling rumours that he is not in Ronald Koeman's plans for the coming campaign.
Barkley was warned by the Dutchman that he would be offloaded unless he extended his current contract during the summer, which now has less than 12 months left to run.
Any rumoured interest from Tottenham Hotspur may now be put on hold, however, as the 23-year-old is likely to miss around a month of action while he recovers from the successful surgery.
An Everton statement read: "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."
Defender Ramiro Funes Mori has had to undergo a further operation on his troublesome knee, meanwhile, which is expected to see him remain on the sidelines for between six and nine months.
