Premier League outfit Everton agreed a fee to sign Cork City goalkeeper David Harrington but he is now set to join Fleetwood Town after an injury scuppered his hopes of a move to Goodison Park, according to the Irish Examiner.
It’s a strange story, this one.
Harrington was supposed to end up at Everton, and is now heading to the third-tier with Fleetwood instead. Perhaps he had his heart set on a move to England’s North West. Maybe Everton will continue to keep tabs on him down the road at Highbury, with the idea of renewing their interest at some point in the near future.
The 22-year-old shot-stopper will, at least, find first-team minutes easier to come by at Fleetwood than he would have at Everton.
Everton wanted Cork City goalkeeper David Harrington but deal collapses
According to the Irish Examiner, Everton had agreed a ‘six-figure’ fee with 2022 League of Ireland champions Cork City. Harrington even met Frank Lampard and Alan Kelly, the Toffees’ goalkeeping coach.
That was until a shoulder injury brought those talks crashing down. According to the Independent, Harrington had yet to undergo a medical at Goodison Park. And, with the talented glovesman now expected to remain out of action for a couple of months, the Merseyside giants walked away from the transfer, leaving the door wide open to a club sitting some 60 miles up the M6.
“We will wait and see what happens,” Cork boss David Healy explained earlier in the autumn. “(Harrington is) a young lad. He’s done very, very well for himself. He’s got a big future in the game.
It can be difficult when you’re a young lad. You have got that pressure and you are linked with Everton.
“Listen they’re a massive club, they are. People don’t realise how big they are. So let’s see what happens. If he stays with us then great. If he does go at the end of the year or something like that, we will wish him the best.”
Everton are still looking at bringing in a back-up goalkeeper with Asmir Begovic’s contract expiring over the summer. Former Bodo/Glimt stopper and free-agent Nikita Haikin is another option.
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