Crystal Palace and Everton are set to complete an unusual summer transfer.
Dwight McNeil's girlfriend Megan Sharpley was left furious with Crystal Palace
Dwight McNeil's girlfriend Megan Sharpley was left furious with Crystal Palace (Image: Getty)
Crystal Palace reportedly held talks with Dwight McNeil's girlfriend before agreeing to sign the Everton forward in an unusual straight swap. McNeil's move to Selhurst Park was confirmed on Tuesday morning, with the 26-year-old undergoing a medical the day before. He has been swapped with Brennan Johnson, who joined Palace for a club-record transfer fee only seven months ago.
The deal is a straight swap with no transfer fees involved, which is nowadays uncommon in modern football. It comes after Palace chairman Steve Parish sought out McNeil's girlfriend, Megan Sharpley, for clear-the-air talks after the player's failed move in February, according to The Times.
McNeil was set for a deadline-day transfer to replace Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was expected to join AC Milan. However, when he failed a medical at the San Siro, Palace withdrew their interest in McNeil.
They submitted a deal sheet to the Premier League, allowing them extra time to get the move over the line, but pulled out at the last minute.
It sparked a furious response from Sharpley, who said on Instagram that there had been "radio silence" from Palace and that McNeil’s mental health had been affected.
She wrote: "Tonight, and the last 48 hours, have broken my heart to see how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you. We live in a world where everyone is aware of how big a problem mental health is.
"So, in football, why do we find it acceptable because these young men are on a lot of money and that’s OK to mess and toy with their mental health and that it’s just part of the job?"
McNeil was set to join Palace back in February but the move fell through
McNeil was set to join Palace back in February but the move fell through (Image: Getty)
Six months after McNeil's failed move, he has finally joined Palace as their third summer signing. They had already welcomed Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu, with both players arriving on free transfers.
Palace are also finalising a deal to land Union Saint-Gilloise right-back Anan Khalaili in a £21million switch. He underwent a medical on Sunday and is expected to sign a five-year contract at Selhurst Park.
Johnson, meanwhile, will be hoping to kick on at Everton, having struggled to impress since joining Palace in a £35m deal back in January.
He failed to score in 18 league appearances for the Eagles and was believed to have been among the club's highest earners, taking home in excess of £100,000 per week.