Everton paid nil in Li Tie's transfer?
(Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2003-08-14 14:46

Li Tie's transfer deal was signed August 12, but the Chinese media revealed recently the agreement had already been hammered out July 17. What's more, Everton got the Chinese international for nothing!

Li Tie is very confident that it's the football factor rather than Asian market which makes Everton retain him for another year.[Sina]

Despite the bundle of riddles on Li's transfer process from the Chinese club of Liaoning Bird to Everton, one thing is for sure: the marketing operation of the Premiership side concealed the hot issue from the Chinese public since mid July.

"Zhang Shuguang (manager of Liaoning Bird) already knew Li Tie could go back to England again after returning from a secret talk with Everton in England the middle of July," according to a report from Tom Sports (sports.tom.com), a leading Chinese sports Website that released the story after inviting Zhang for an online talk August 13.

"Zhang came back with a promise from Everton that he would get the one million pounds -- a price Zhang deemed reasonable for Li's quality -- before Christmas," Tom Sports said. "The reason why Everton didn't make it public is that they need someone to foot the bill prior to a formal signing ritual."

Tom Sports' remark has by now been the most convincing explanation about the massively attended issue in China. As manager of the Liaoning Bird, Zhang was invited to appear on a talk show the day after the deal was signed.

"As a major sponsor for Everton, Kejian, a Chinese electronic giant, has played a key role in reaching the final agreement," Zhang said. "Kejian had offered to help to eliminate the price gap if there is one in the negotiating two sides."

Kejin finally paid 200,000 pounds as Everton insisted they would pay no more than 500,000 for Li. The mobile phone producer hopes the move will help extend their sponsorship cooperation with Everton, which boosted Li's on-loan deal last year.

As for the remaining 800,000 pounds, Tow Sports reported August 13 that 300,000 pounds were borrowed from a Chinese mainland media company and the other 500,000 was paid by a Hong Kong sports marketing company that gets the rights to exploit the Asian market for Everton. However, Tom Sports changed its report later that day, saying all 800,000 pounds were coming out of the mainland media company.

During the program Zhang dismissed that it was Kejian's money that decided the transfer deal. "Everton wants Li Tie. Li Tie's capability is the most important factor in the transfer process despite Kejian's great help," Zhang said. "The reason why Everton did this is, from what I think, from their benefit consideration."