Former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood, who captained Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title, has given his opinion after Dwight McNeil saw his move from Everton to Crystal Palace fall through
Dwight McNeil saw a move to Crystal Palace from Everton collapse on deadline day
Dwight McNeil saw a move to Crystal Palace from Everton collapse on deadline day(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has given his opinion after Dwight McNeil saw his move from Everton to Crystal Palace fall through. The winger looked set to sign for the Blues' Premier League rivals on transfer deadline day.
However, a deal collapsed in the final minutes of the window and both Everton and the player’s partner, Megan Sharpley, are understood to have concerns about Palace’s handling of the move as it broke down.
Oliver Glasner, the Eagles manager, said that he believed the transfer broke down due to the terms changing late in talks. Blues boss David Moyes then responded by saying: “I can tell you 100% it was nothing to do with Everton Football Club - that’s for sure.”
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McNeil returned to Everton late last week but was not part of the matchday squad for Saturday's 2-1 triumph at Fulham.
And now Sherwood, who says he is close to Palace chairman Steve Parish, has offered his take. He said: "Do Dwight McNeil and Everton have a right to feel aggrieved? It’s difficult to know the circumstances and what happened.
"I know Steve Parish really well, and he’s a good guy. I don’t think he would do anything malicious.
"Obviously you are going to be disappointed if you set your heart on a move but I find it very difficult to believe that clubs leave this sort of business to the last minute.
"Clubs like Manchester City just go and get their business done. Antoine Semenyo? Okay, bring him in. Liverpool want Marc Guehi? Doesn’t matter. We’re going to get him. Just get the job done.
"If you have to wait until the last hour of the last day, you leave things to chance and personally when I heard Dwight’s name mentioned I felt if he was going to go anywhere it could be to (Nottingham) Forest because of Sean Dyche.
"He likes players that he knows and who know him inside and out. He took Dwight to Everton."
Sharpley posted a long message on her Instagram account after the transfer window closed in which she claimed Palace had “toyed” with McNeil and said the move ended without communication from the London club. The former Burnley man shared her comment on his profile.
The deal was for an initial loan that would have been made permanent for £20m in the summer.
And Sherwood, who captained Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in his playing days, continued to Casinostugan: "Obviously the move to Palace falling apart is disappointing but as a player there is only one thing you can do and that’s to knuckle down, play well and put yourself in the best position for someone else to take you in the summer.
"I think he probably might have a few more options by then too, but he needs to play.
"And I think he’s going to have opportunities at Everton too because Jack Grealish has broken his foot."
The Blues return to action at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday (7.30pm kick-off).