James McCarthy leaves for Everton
The main news of the night was the transfer of James McCarthy to Everton for a fee reported to be £13m. Maroune Fellaini’s late move from Everton to Manchester United for £27.5m looked to have triggered McCarthy’s move to Goodison Park.
McCarthy’s deal was only confirmed with nine minutes of the transfer deadline remaining. Wigan Chairman Dave Whelan told the BBC,
They’ve been realistic and have matched our valuation. They are going to pay us much, much quicker than they said they would earlier.
Wigan fans will be disappointed to see the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international leaving the club, but it was perhaps inevitable that the player would want to move to a Premier League club and in the process improve his salary.
On the positive side, Latics have now received over £20m from Everton for McCarthy and Arouna Kone and this should be regarded as good business for the club.
Earlier in the day Latics made a reported £8m bid for prolific Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes, but Rovers turned down the offer stating that Rhodes will be staying at Ewood Park.
There was also some speculation about moves for Callum McManaman and Shaun Maloney but neither player looked likely to be leaving the club in this window.
Transfer deadline day did end on a positive note with the season-long loan signing of highly rated central midfielder Nick Powell from Manchester United.
Nick Powell joins on loan
The Under 19-year-old England international is a likely replacement for McCarthy, and is a product of the respected Crewe youth system.
Owen Coyle has already publicly said he’s a fan of the youngster. He told the Daily Mail,
I am always loathe to talk about everybody else’s players. Everyone knows that me and David [Moyes] have a very good relationship. He [Powell] is a hugely talented player. If and when he becomes available, I would certainly love to bring a player of that calibre to the football club if it is possible. He goes away with England under-21s I’m led to believe this week – somebody told me that.
Powell scored against Wigan on his debut in a 4-0 win at Old Trafford last season. He made two appearances in the Champions League under Sir Alex Ferguson, but has been allowed to move on a temporary basis to a club which will allow him to remain settled in the north-west.
The loan deal should benefit both clubs as Powell looks to regain match fitness in the competitive environment of the Championship.
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You say good business for who,WIgan Ath or dave whelan?.Why did we not bring in another striker.In the last EIGHT years with Sky and other deals you have amast well over 240 million pounds.With the players that you have brought in which are average,I don’t feel that it’s a good deal for Wigan Ath.
Look who Wigan have sold for millions of pounds,and the players they have bought or loaned for peanuts.
I understand your frustration in the sale of James McCarthy but Dave Whelan is a businessman and he runs the club according to his business principles. He has invested a considerable amount of his own personal wealth in the club and to be fair the club would not be at this level without his investment.
Also the club is not in as strong a financial position as you might think. The last financial results for the year ended May 2012 show a profit of only £4.3m compared and this was first time in six years that the Club had reported a net profit.
Whelan has said that the money from McCarthy’s fee will be available to Owen Coyle for loan signings and the next transfer window in January.