The Toffees were beaten to the punch by Tottenham on deadline day.
Everton failed in a bid to sign Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko for £30 million on transfer deadline day, with the Frenchman instead moving to Spurs, and Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri has now made a surprising revelation about the deal, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Sissoko had been linked with a move away from St. James’ Park all summer long, and yet in the final hours of deadline day his future was still uncertain as both Everton and Spurs made last-ditch moves to sign the France star.
It was a rollercoaster ride on Wednesday, as first Spurs and then the Toffees looked to be in pole position for the big-money signing of the 27-year-old.
However, it was Spurs who ultimately prevailed, and though it initially seemed as though they had simply emerged victorious over Everton, Toffees owner Moshiri has now made a big claim about the saga.
The 61-year-old claimed that the club in fact pulled the plug on the deal as they decided that they would rather keep faith with midfielder James McCarthy rather than “turn our back” on him by signing Sissoko.
Moshiri said, via the Daily Mail: “Sissoko is a great player. But when I bought into Everton, I made it clear I was proud to join a family.
“And we don’t turn our backs on our own. Keeping James McCarthy was a priority and ultimately we could not proceed with a deal that would jeopardise his place at Everton.
“We wish Sissoko the best.”
That statement will come as something of a surprise to many Toffees fans, given that McCarthy was reported to have registered his intention to leave the club.
The 25-year-old was linked to a host of clubs including Celtic and West Bromwich Albion, but the Mail reports Everton were unwilling to let him leave without securing a replacement.
Signing Sissoko would have come too late for McCarthy to sort out a move for himself, and Moshiri is suggesting that he and Ronald Koeman effectively chose the Scot over the Frenchman.
McCarthy now looks set to continue as a first-choice midfielder for the Toffees this term, whereas he would likely have been relegated to a role as a substitute had Sissoko arrived.
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