Keith Wyness reacts as Man City accused of ‘tapping up’ in new controversy
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted he feels Man City have done nothing “untoward” in their capture of teenage defender Juma Bah.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 67-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the fault lies with previous club Real Valladolid, who he says had ample opportunity to tie the 18-year-old down to a new contract.
Man City announced the signing of Bah on Monday (27 January), with the defender immediately heading on loan to French club RC Lens.
Bah and his agent announced last week they would be paying his £5million release clause to cancel his contract with Valladolid.
As per The Independent (22 January), the Spanish club responded in a statement to accuse City of tapping the player up – claiming they are “behind this decision” and “advised the player to take this route”.
2006-born Bah had made 13 senior appearances for Valladolid to put him on the radar of the Premier League champions.
Man City have done nothing ‘untoward’ in Bah signing, says Wyness
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It’s not as messy as it appears.
“The problem, in my opinion, lies with Valladolid.
“They had a chance to tie this player down. He was on a youth contract when he came in from Sierra Leone, I believe.
“It is quite common for the players to buy out their own release clause, and that’s what he’s done for six million euros.
“He was given the money to register that with the Spanish Federation.
“I don’t think there’s been any tapping up. Valladolid had plenty of time to get him on the senior roster and renew his contract.
“I think the fault lies with them and I don’t blame City for picking up young talent and doing it as quickly as they could.
“There’s nothing to me which seems untoward.”
In other news, “Man City ramp up bid to rival Real Madrid for Joshua Kimmich”.
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