Everton manager Ronald Koeman has greater issues with Ross Barkley not signing a new contract than he does over the midfielder's social activities

The 23-year-old was left with a bruised face after allegedly being punched while on a night out in the city following Sunday's win over Leicester.

Koeman had no worries about Barkley's conduct in respect of that matter but his ongoing contract impasse - the England international has just over one year left on his current deal - remains a bone of contention.

"It is not what you like to read in the press about your players," Koeman said of the nightclub incident.

"I think it could happen to anyone in town and maybe now you realise it is maybe not the best place (to be). It was the wrong time at the wrong place.

"But it is no problem for me if the behaviour (is good). He didn't drink, he was driving his car, and if you meet those (type of) people then something can happen.

"Maybe that is the reason I live outside the town.

"You learn from incidents that happen and that's good because you need to learn."

Koeman has reiterated his stance that he needs Barkley to sign a new deal before the end of the season otherwise he will have to look at selling a player in the final year of his contract.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings David de Gea – 4 out of 10 So often the saviour, could have done more to prevent Jagielka’s peculiar goal, like closing his legs for starters. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Ashley Young – 7 out of 10 Offered more offensively than most and tested Everton’s defence with several crosses, but his team-mates failed to make them count. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Marcos Rojo – 4 out of 10 A more assertive centre-half would have clattered Jagielka and won the header that lead to the goal. Too often, Rojo is not that centre-half. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Eric Bailly – 6 out of 10 Dealt with Lukaku in the brief moments he threatened United’s backline on a largely quiet night for the hosts’ defence. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Daley Blind – 5 out of 10 Ineffective going forward first half, hauled off for Paul Pogba at half-time. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Ander Herrera – 7 out of 10 One of United’s brighter sparks but even so, should have done better than hit the bar when latching onto the rebound of Blind’s first half free-kick. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Michael Carrick - 6 out of 10 Struggled to have an impact and often too conservative in his passing when United needed a fresh impetus. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Marouane Fellaini – 4 out of 10 The many United supporters who believe he simply should not be in this team had their arguments boosted. Offers little more than a target on set pieces and a mistimed tackle. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Jesse Lingard – 4 out of 10 Like Fellaini, a display to fuel his critics. Wasteful in the first-half, largely anonymous in the second. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 5 out of 10 Still misses far too many opportunities for a frontman of his quality. Could have got United off to a perfect start but fluffed his lines. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Marcus Rashford – 4 out of 10 A night where his relative inexperience showed. Has good grace and plenty of time on his side to improve, at least. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Joel Robles – 8 out of 10 Recovered from a shaky display in the Merseyside derby to impress. Best save came when acrobatically denying Blind from a free-kick. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Mason Holgate – 7 out of 10 Mature performance from the youngster. Poked a low cross away from Rashford’s toes to keep it 1-0 towards the end of the first half. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Phil Jagielka – 7 out of 10 A quite remarkable finish for his goal and coped well defensively, although aided by United’s lack of pace in forward positions. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Ashley Williams – 4 out of 10 It was all going so well until that late handball. The Wales international wins a lot of plaudits, but this was another mistake in a debut Everton season peppered with them. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Leighton Baines – 6 out of 10 Played his part in a solid defensive display, but would perhaps have had more problems if facing the rested Antonio Valencia. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Idrissa Gueye – 6 out of 10 Swept up and stifled United attacks alongside Barry, though Herrera had the better of him at times. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Gareth Barry – 8 out of 10 The key man in Everton’s backs-to-the-wall resistance, did not mind getting a little dirty. Will have enjoyed one ‘experienced’ challenge on Rashford. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Tom Davies – 7 out of 10 No doubt buoyed by his new contract, the youngster was much better than at Anfield. Showed movement and intelligence breaking into the final third. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Ross Barkley – 6 out of 10 Another player who improved from Anfield, but in Barkley’s case it was not hard. If you’re being harsh, showed little creativity, but battled well. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Kevin Mirallas – 6 out of 10 Brought more invention to the line-up having sat out the majority of the derby. He and Lukaku were not on the same wavelength at times, however. Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings Romelu Lukaku – 5 out of 10 At times guilty of not holding the ball up well enough and inviting pressure on his team, but his all-round display was an unselfish one for the cause.

That does not mean, however, Koeman wants to get rid of the academy graduate.

"I am not involved in negotiations but I know the board is talking to his agent," he said.

"We offer him what is good, what is normal for the player. We need to know the answer before the end of the season.

"I spoke to Ross several weeks ago and he mentioned his ambition was the Champions League and I told him I had the same ambition.

Barkley has yet to sign a new contract (Getty ) (Getty)

"He is one of the key players, a kid of the club and a kid of the town, and in my opinion there is no better place for him to continue than at Everton.

"Everyone sees a difference between this season and last season: the direction, the new signings, the new stadium."

Striker Romelu Lukaku has already told the Toffees he will not be signing a new contract, although he has two years remaining, as he wants to play in Europe's elite club competition.

Asked whether Barkley, who has been linked with Tottenham, doing the same was a concern, Koeman said: "If you ask the players one by one everyone will mention they like to play Champions League: for every manager, for every player and also the fans.

"Our next step is to play in Europe. It will be difficult but if we finish fifth or sixth it would be perfect as you don't play any qualification games for the Europa League."