Manchester United signing Marouane Fellaini begged for deadline day transfer as Everton played hardball
Midfielder drove to training ground to make request in
person as 11pm deadline neared - and agreement was finally struck at
10.55pm
Paul Thomas
Marouane Fellaini delivered a transfer request in person to Everton
as he successfully made a last-ditch attempt to force through a
£27million move to Manchester United.
Belgium international Fellaini drove to the Toffees’ training ground at 7.30pm to speak personally to manager Roberto Martinez, and plead with him to sanction the switch to Old Trafford he has craved all summer.
Fellaini had grown increasingly frustrated on Monday afternoon after talks between the two clubs turned fractious, with champions United reluctant to increase their offer from early in the day of around £23million.
The Mirror can reveal Fellaini finally got his wish just five minutes before the transfer window slammed shut, when United made a FOURTH offer for the midfielder on a dramatic deadline day.
Incredibly, the champions could have signed Fellaini barely a month ago for £4m LESS than the fee they will now pay.
But after a desperate day in the transfer market, United were forced to swallow their pride and bid well over the figure that Fellaini had written into his contract as a release clause, until it expired at the beginning of August.
United bid the release clause figure of £23.5m early on Monday, but were immediately knocked back by Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, who remained steadfast in his insistence they would have to pay a premium on that clause.
Boss David Moyes then began to look elsewhere, but when his proposed move for Athletic Bilbao star Ander Hererra collapsed, United returned with the SAME bid at 10.07pm, plus some complicated add-ons.
That too was rejected, as was a third bid at 10.35pm.
But with time running out, former Everton manager Moyes insisted his new club make one more bid, which arrived at 10.45pm, and was finally accepted by the Scot's previous employers at 10.55pm - leaving barely seconds to complete the paperwork.
The deal comes as something as a triumph for Everton - had they not completed the transfer, Fellaini would have been entitled to leave for £23.5m in January, when the clause would have kicked back in again.
And it capped a successful day in the transfer market overall for the Goodison club, who also completed the capture of James McCarthy from Wigan, along with loan deals for both Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry.
Everton have also agreed a deal to sell Victor Anichebe to West Brom for £6m, though they must wait to see if the paperwork was completed in time, with the Premier League due to rule on Tuesday morning.
Fellaini's transfer request means he will miss out on any bonus payments due from the deal, but his patience cracked late Monday afternoon, when he made clear he didn't want to play for the club any more.
That persuaded Everton to find a replacement, and they did that when Wigan chief Dave Whelan accepted an offer for McCarthy at 10.50pm, when he backed down and agreed to a £12m deal spread over four years.
Lukaku also agreed to a loan move that will cost the Blues £3m in total, despite a late attempt to hijack the transfer by West Brom, where the Belgian starred on loan last season.
The Toffees will also take Barry on loan for the season, and will have the chance to sign him for free at the end of the term because he has just one year left on his City contract.
Everton and City will split the England midfielder's salary, with both clubs contributing around £60,000 a week each.
Earlier in the day, the Goodison club had made a move for Porto's Brazilian midfielder Fernando, and even applied for a work permit, but the deal was always viewed as a back-up plan.
While Everton were left celebrating their final frantic few minutes of the window, United were less happy, after being forced to pay considerably more for Fellaini than they could have paid for him in July.
Questions will be asked by their fans this morning.
Belgium international Fellaini drove to the Toffees’ training ground at 7.30pm to speak personally to manager Roberto Martinez, and plead with him to sanction the switch to Old Trafford he has craved all summer.
Fellaini had grown increasingly frustrated on Monday afternoon after talks between the two clubs turned fractious, with champions United reluctant to increase their offer from early in the day of around £23million.
The Mirror can reveal Fellaini finally got his wish just five minutes before the transfer window slammed shut, when United made a FOURTH offer for the midfielder on a dramatic deadline day.
Incredibly, the champions could have signed Fellaini barely a month ago for £4m LESS than the fee they will now pay.
But after a desperate day in the transfer market, United were forced to swallow their pride and bid well over the figure that Fellaini had written into his contract as a release clause, until it expired at the beginning of August.
United bid the release clause figure of £23.5m early on Monday, but were immediately knocked back by Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, who remained steadfast in his insistence they would have to pay a premium on that clause.
Boss David Moyes then began to look elsewhere, but when his proposed move for Athletic Bilbao star Ander Hererra collapsed, United returned with the SAME bid at 10.07pm, plus some complicated add-ons.
That too was rejected, as was a third bid at 10.35pm.
But with time running out, former Everton manager Moyes insisted his new club make one more bid, which arrived at 10.45pm, and was finally accepted by the Scot's previous employers at 10.55pm - leaving barely seconds to complete the paperwork.
The deal comes as something as a triumph for Everton - had they not completed the transfer, Fellaini would have been entitled to leave for £23.5m in January, when the clause would have kicked back in again.
And it capped a successful day in the transfer market overall for the Goodison club, who also completed the capture of James McCarthy from Wigan, along with loan deals for both Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry.
Everton have also agreed a deal to sell Victor Anichebe to West Brom for £6m, though they must wait to see if the paperwork was completed in time, with the Premier League due to rule on Tuesday morning.
Fellaini's transfer request means he will miss out on any bonus payments due from the deal, but his patience cracked late Monday afternoon, when he made clear he didn't want to play for the club any more.
That persuaded Everton to find a replacement, and they did that when Wigan chief Dave Whelan accepted an offer for McCarthy at 10.50pm, when he backed down and agreed to a £12m deal spread over four years.
Lukaku also agreed to a loan move that will cost the Blues £3m in total, despite a late attempt to hijack the transfer by West Brom, where the Belgian starred on loan last season.
The Toffees will also take Barry on loan for the season, and will have the chance to sign him for free at the end of the term because he has just one year left on his City contract.
Everton and City will split the England midfielder's salary, with both clubs contributing around £60,000 a week each.
Earlier in the day, the Goodison club had made a move for Porto's Brazilian midfielder Fernando, and even applied for a work permit, but the deal was always viewed as a back-up plan.
While Everton were left celebrating their final frantic few minutes of the window, United were less happy, after being forced to pay considerably more for Fellaini than they could have paid for him in July.
Questions will be asked by their fans this morning.
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