Everton’s owner attempted to save face after missing out on Moussa Sissoko to Tottenham.
Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko in action with Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen
Everton missed out on French midfielder Moussa Sissoko when they were beaten to his signature on transfer deadline day by Tottenham Hotspur.
Both clubs had agreed fees with Newcastle United for the Euro 2016 star, but it was Tottenham who came out on top. The opportunity to play Champions League football was no doubt a clincher for Sissoko, who has long harboured ambition to play on the top stage.
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri attempted to save face after the snub, insisting they made the decision not to pursue a deal.
New Everton investor Farhad Moshiri in the stands
His reasoning claimed he wanted to ‘remain loyal’ to midfielder James McCarthy instead, but his comments do not really explain why he tried to sign Sissoko in the first place.
Moshiri said, quoted by 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.”
Tottenham’s Danny Rose in action with Everton’s James McCarthy
As far as excuses go, it’s not the most convincing, and Mohshiri may have gained more respect if he simply admitted they tried to sign Sissoko, were beaten to the deal, and such instances can happen on deadline day, rather than trying to spin his own narrative.
His comments certainly caused amusement among Tottenham fans, who took to twitter to comment…
Everton fans also saw through Moshiri’s comments, reacting critically.
This was the Iranian investor’s first transfer window at the helm at Everton and he has gained a lot of respect for the way he has operated.
The Sissoko instance will have served as a harsh lesson of the competitive nature of the window, and perhaps persuaded him to try and avoid the deadline day rush in future, while the pressure will now be on James McCarthy to show that the owner’s claimed faith in his ability is fully justified.
Everton’s James McCarthy and Bournemouth’s Glenn Murray
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