Monaco have revealed why Folarin Balogun’s late move to Everton broke down.
Balogun was in line for a deadline day move to Hill Dickinson Stadium with a £40 million package before Tuesday’s deadline before concerns arose in his medical.
A knee problem picked up during the United States international’s screening is understood to have been at the heart of the issue for David Moyes’ side.
The Blues were able to restructure the proposed transfer with a deal sheet submitted to the Premier League but Balogun left Merseyside soon after.
Monaco’s CEO Thiago Scuro has now lifted the lid on what transpired in the intervening hours while his club also negotiated with Chelsea for Lamine Camara.
He said: “We had a clear agreement for Balogun to go to Everton.
“Balogun flew yesterday morning to go for medicals [in Liverpool] and sign a contract… everything was going pretty well.
“Around 7pm, we were contacted by Everton, raising questions about Balogun’s medical, which, for our medical staff, as well as for the player’s personal medical staff, made no sense at all.
“We informed, again, everyone that there was no deal with Chelsea (for Camara). We progressed. The Premier League has a mechanism in which you can request one extra hour to finish the paperwork.
“This was done, five minutes to close the transfer window there, for us to finish all the paperwork between Monaco and Everton and ‘Balo’.
“I signed the contract, Everton signed the contract [but] at the last moment, the players decided not to sign.
“Basically, Balogun’s allegation is that: ‘I’m not feeling well because of the way the club treated me. I’m not feeling well because Everton’s medical department raised doubts about my future or my health. I have nothing (no health problem), so I’m not comfortable signing a long contract here’.”