James McCarthy’s much anticipated move from Wigan to Everton, finally went through on Monday night, virtually on the deadline, following a game of brinkmanship between the two clubs that appears to have centred on the term over which the Merseysiders would have to pay the roughly €15 million fee for the player.
Earlier in the evening Wigan chairman Dave Whelan had described Everton’s offer for the Republic of Ireland midfielder as “staggering” - though not in a good way - with the 76-year-old, who was attempting to line up a replacement for McCarthy, saying that it was “impossible to do any sort of business” on the basis of a payment schedule that involved instalments spread out over four years.
Everton then appeared to have come back with a slightly improved bid as the deadline approached and while the payment terms had yet to be finalised, McCarthy arrived at the club’s training ground shortly before 11pm in order to wrap up his end of the deal.
The move reunites the 22 year-old with his former Wigan boss Roberto Martinez and news of its completion will have pleased Giovanni Trapattoni. “I hope for him it happens,” the Italian had said yesterday. “I have great respect for Roberto Martinez and he knows the player and I’m sure he will improve him. James is missing nothing technically but he is sometimes a little shy, he needs to talk more to the other players. I think he can continue to develop. If it happens I think he will be very happy and it will be good for us because he will have more faith in himself.”
Shane Long, meanwhile, came within a whisker of leaving West Brom but his €6 million move to Hull City fell through after he had travelled back to England from the international squad's base in Malahide to discuss personal terms with Steve Bruce.
The striker, it seems, was always reluctant to depart but West Brom initially signalled their willingness to let him go as it sought to free up space for the arrival of Victor Anichebe, Stephane Sessegnon and Romelu Lukaku.
The Chelsea striker joined Everton on loan instead and so West Brom pulled out of the deal thereby ensuring that Long remains Steve Clarke’s player, albeit one who feel a little less loved than he had when he woke up yesterday morning in Dublin.
There were suggestions, meanwhile, that Reading had made a late move to re-sign their former striker Kevin Doyle from Wolves but the deal failed to materialise.
Shay Given’s salary appears to have scuppered his proposed move to Anfield with Liverpool and Aston Villa apparently unable to agree who would shoulder what portion of his weekly pay packet.
Stephen Ireland’s one year loan move from Villa to Stoke City then was the next most significant Irish transfer of the day. The 27 year-old links up again with former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes under whom he played the best football of his career five seasons ago.
