The mayor of Liverpool has asked police to investigate whether any "fraud" has taken place surrounding Ross Barkley's transfer from Everton to Chelsea.
Joe Anderson has written to the heads of the Football Association (FA) and Premier League following the 24-year-old England midfielder's £15m move.
The "circumstance" of the deal "warrants serious investigation", said lifelong Everton fan Mr Anderson.
Merseyside Police said Mr Anderson's letter "is currently being considered".
The England international has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with Chelsea
In the letter, on his official headed notepaper, Mr Anderson expressed concern about the size of the transfer fee paid by Chelsea for Barkley.
The Premier League champions had reportedly agreed to pay £35m in the summer, only for Barkley to pull out of the move to Stamford Bridge at the last minute.
Noting that Barkley did not play "a single minute for Everton" in the time between these two negotiations, he said the player has seen "a decrease in value of more than one million pounds a week".
He claimed: "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," Mr Anderson said.
In the letter, Mr Anderson tells FA chairman Greg Clarke and Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore that he feels "it is right that the public receive an assurance on this matter".
What a complete clown. Would imagine a mayor has more important things to contend with rather than wasting police time but apparently not. People have been wearing contracts down for decades to get a better deal for themselves. Made me chuckle however.
Liverpols Mayor
posted on 10/1/18
f I'm self employed and I have an agent/accountant to do my paper work, I pay them to do it, I don't expect clients that I've worked for to pay it.
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I doubt anyone has wanted your services to the level that clubs want players tbf, but I could be wrong.
When things are in high demand people will do all sorts to secure it.
People know full well this is how the world works and always has.
posted on 10/1/18
pie crust snorting wizard
posted on 10/1/18
comment by Stretty - mr mourinho (U3123)
posted 25 minutes ago
f I'm self employed and I have an agent/accountant to do my paper work, I pay them to do it, I don't expect clients that I've worked for to pay it.
=================
I doubt anyone has wanted your services to the level that clubs want players tbf, but I could be wrong.
When things are in high demand people will do all sorts to secure it.
People know full well this is how the world works and always has.
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I know how it works, just questioned whether it is right, I would however question the 'Always has' bit!
posted on 10/1/18
comment by RonaldVilliers - The Fat Mexican Big Tittied Dud Jakey> Dembele (U21490)
posted 4 hours, 4 minutes ago
Everton only got 8m for him then?
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I don't think that's how it works. The way I understand it is that the buying club pays for agents' fees on top of the asking price. So Everton would get their £15M, and Chelsea would additionally pay the agent £7M. Which is probably their agreed share of the £20M that Chelsea saved!
I can understand Everton being frustrated by that - but on the other hand every team does it. Everton did not need to sell at all - they could have made Barkley run out his contract. They did not need to agree to sell for £15M, but I'm guessing no other team came in for him at a higher price.
posted on 10/1/18
"They did not need to agree to sell for £15M, but I'm guessing no other team came in for him at a higher price."
My understanding is a transfer was agreed in the summer for £35m - but the player basically collapsed the deal, I'm guessing after his agent whispered in his ear about waiting for a few months and picking up a nice lump sum at Everton's expsense. I could be wrong. It's that the player/agent cynically stopped an arrangement for personal gain that really grates.
posted on 10/1/18
Barkley should be persona non grata at Goodison now then.
posted on 10/1/18
Wasn't there an issue with the medical?
posted on 10/1/18
I'm guessing after his agent whispered in his ear about waiting for a few months and picking up a nice lump sum at Everton's expsense.
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David Moyes did exactly the same when he was Everton manager, after finding out United were interested.
posted on 10/1/18
comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 6 hours, 14 minutes ago
comment by Stretty - mr mourinho (U3123)
posted 7 seconds ago
Joe Anderson said he is considering removing himself from social media site Twitter because of the nature and volume of the abuse he receives.
Mayor Anderson had an eventuful evening interacting with Twitter users yesterday - but showcased some of the more insulting and abusive messages he received by retweeting them.
These included bizarre insults such as labelling the Mayor a “pie crust snorting wizard” and a “corrupt humpty dumpty looking nonce” - and he thinks it is getting out of control."
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Brilliant...that's fackin choice that...
posted on 10/1/18
Any beef Everton have is with the player, he pulled out of the deal so he decreased his own value. And they can't sight the fact he didn't play any minutes this season to reinforce their argument because they choose to cash in during January, could've kept him for the reminder of the season and let him leave on a free.
Baseless case, any investigation is a waste of resources.