Thursday 1 September 2016 18:26, UK
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has claimed the club withdrew from a deal to sign Moussa Sissoko out of loyalty to Toffees midfielder James McCarthy.
Manager Ronald Koeman was keen to bring Sissoko to Goodison Park on Deadline Day, agreeing a club-record £30m fee for the France midfielder with Sky Bet Championship side Newcastle.
Everton had agreed personal terms with Sissoko and organised a private plane to take him to Merseyside to undergo a medical, but the 27-year-old reneged on the deal after Tottenham matched the Toffees' offer.
Sissoko turned his mobile phone off, ignoring calls from Koeman, before travelling to London to sign a five-year deal at White Hart Lane.
Despite appearing to have been pipped to Sissoko's signature by Tottenham, Moshiri insists Everton made the decision to withdraw from negotiations and claims McCarthy was the major factor.
"[Moussa] Sissoko is a great player. But when I bought into Everton, I made it clear I was proud to join a family," a statement from Moshiri read.
"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 jeopardize his place at Everton.
"We wish Sissoko the best."
McCarthy, who is currently away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, has featured three times so far this season under Koeman, starting two of Everton's three Premier League matches.
