League One side have slammed former Everton boss David Moyes, the Scotsman revealed that Everton only paid £1.25million for John Stones while the club denies they let the player go so cheap.
In a statement on the club website, the club expressed their disappointment in David Moyes due to breaking obligation of confidentiality to his former employer. In the statement released early this morning the club explain:
Ordinarily, we would not comment on matters of speculation, but the article on the Mirror website carries the headline, David Moyes reveals Everton paid just £1.25million to sign John Stones from Barnsley.
The amount paid by Everton to Barnsley is Commercial in Confidence, and we would have expected that David Moyes would be bound by that obligation of confidentiality to his former employer.
The Club the went on to dismiss all allegations of the transfer fee, explaining that David Moyes was not even involved in the negotiations for John Stones. They said:
However, given the categoric nature of the assertion made, it is incumbent on Barnsley FC to correct such a statement when it is markedly and unequivocally wrong and yet is made by someone that the public might think is authoritative on the subject.
This is particularly the case since he has cited the same erroneous fee on previous occasions also. David Moyes played no part in any negotiation with Barnsley FC concerning the transfer of John Stones, which may explain why he is mistaken as to the fee paid.
It is unknown whether the club can and will take any legal action against David Moyes or against any publications running the story.
John Stones has struggled in recent weeks due to the strong form of Ramiro Funes Mori and Phil Jagielka keeping the youngster sat on the bench for a period of time longer than he has discovered since he made his breakthrough for Everton.
With such speculation over his future with clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid hovering over the talented defender, Roberto Martinez will be doing everything in his power to keep the Englishman at the club and keep his feet on the ground.
