The Mayor of Liverpool has asked the police to investigate Ross Barkley’s move to Chelsea.
Barkley left Everton last week for the Premier League champions in a £15 million move, ending months of speculation over his long-term future.
The England midfielder had turned down a new contract at Goodison Park last year and was in the final months of his existing deal before the move to London.
But Barkley’s move has angered Everton fans, who believe the player and his agent colluded against the club after pulling out on a £35m switch to Stamford Bridge last summer.
In a letter to FA chairman Greg Clarke and Premier League chief Richard Scudamore, council leader Joe Anderson says he has asked the police to investigate if any fraud has taken place.
“It was widely reported and confirmed by Mr Farhad Moshiri, a Director of EFC – in an interview on August 31 with Sky Sports News – that a deal had been reached with Chelsea for a fee of £35 million,” he wrote.
“However with less than an hour remaining on deadline day it was revealed that the deal had been rejected by Ross Barkley.
“At the time, it was stated by his agent that Ross had a hamstring injury and had decided to regain his fitness and then consider his options in January.
“The January window opened and within hours Chelsea had tabled an offer to Everton of £15 million – some £20 million less than offered just four months earlier – a decrease in value of more than one million pounds a week.
“At best, this represents a very poor deal for Everton Football Club.
“At worst, it could be seen as a deliberate attempt to drive down a player’s value in the transfer market so as to benefit the player, his agent and the buying club.
“There seems to me to be at least a public perception that collusion has taken place.
“I am so concerned about the circumstances surrounding this transfer that I am asking the appropriate police authorities to consider whether any fraud has taken place.”