Bill Kenwright insists he has ‘no concerns’ about Ross Barkley’s Everton exit.
Barkley sealed a £15 million move to Chelsea last week, less than five months after he pulled out of an original £35m switch to the Premier League champions.
The Wavertree-born midfielder was in the final six months of his existing contract at Goodison Park contract and continually rejected offers of an improved deal.
That move prompted the Mayor of Liverpool to ask the police to investigate whether the transfer was subject to potential ‘fraud’ charges on the player’s part.
Joe Anderson also wrote to the Premier League and Football Association suggesting ‘collusion has taken place’ in Barkley’s departure from his boyhood club.
But Everton chairman Kenwright has shot down suggestions of any improproiety in the deal and credited the Londoners as ‘absolutely immaculate’ in negotiations.
He said: “I’ve got no concerns at all about what Joe’s said [and] I’ve got no concern at all about Chelsea, who were immaculate as they were in the summer.
“It was a deal we agreed because the boy didn’t want to play for Everton.
“It doesn’t concern me at all.”
Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri had revealed the series of events leading upto Barkley’s ultimate departure to fans at Tuesday’s General Meeting
“Ross was the most painful [departure],” said Moshiri.
“I said last year we had three stars: Ross, Romelu [Lukaku] and John Stones but they’ve all gone.
“For sixth months we couldn’t find the agent [of Ross].
“Bill miraculously got an offer of £35m for a player who was going to be a free agent but he didn’t want to go when he was injured.
“Sam spoke to him but he wouldn’t stay.”