Ronald Koeman has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko was interested in signing for Everton.
Tottenham Hotspur completed a staggering £30 million swoop for Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day and the huge transfer unsurprisingly dominated headlines in England.
The fee paid by Tottenham for Sissoko was most certainly a huge one and in addition, it had been claimed that Spurs had managed to stave off fierce competition from Everton in order to complete the deal.
To refute claims that he was interested in signing for Everton, Sissoko himself had recently stated to French media that Tottenham were the only club he wanted to sign for following the completion of the transfer.
He had said, “I never went to Everton. It’s funny. I was watching TV, and I saw that a deal had been done with Everton and that I had signed for them, but I was in London, waiting to sign my contract (with Tottenham).
“It is true that Wednesday was rather quick, and it happened in the last hours, but the bottom line is this is done, I have finalised my transfer to Tottenham. I knew this club really wanted me. I trusted my agent to do the job from start to finish.”
However in direct contrast to Sissoko’s claims though, Everton boss Ronald Koeman has gone on to state that the Toffees had indeed established contacts with the French international earlier during deadline day and added that the former Newcastle man was open to the idea of moving to Goodison Park.
Koeman was quoted saying by Sky Sports, “Overall (the window was) positive, because we signed some good players. Of course, we had a disappointment on the last day, but that happens in football, because you don’t get always what you like to have.
“It was not in our hands with Sissoko. He chose finally a different option, but I can’t say anything against the club, the board, the chairman, because we did everything to get the player.
“I did not have the meeting with his agents. From the outside, it was difficult. I spoke to the player, I think it was 10 days before the last day of the window – and the player showed his interest in coming to Everton. Then, finally, everyone knows what happened.”
