Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to express their anger and bewilderment that their club has lost out to Chelsea on signing Ross Barkley from Everton.
The Premier League champions announced on their official website on Friday evening that they have signed the attacking midfielder from the Merseysiders in a deal that BBC Football report to be worth £15million.
Welcome to Chelsea, Ross Barkley!
Full story ? https://t.co/yRzCCYobbd #WelcomeBarkley pic.twitter.com/CvIInoMEIL
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 5, 2018
Tottenham have been strongly linked with signing Barkley, 24, in the last two transfer windows and it has been widely reported that manager Mauricio Pochettino wanted to convert him into a deep-lying midfielder to replace the increasingly injury-prone Mousa Dembele.
Chelsea have been able to sign the fit-again England international at a significantly reduced price because his contract at boyhood club Everton was due to expire in the summer.
He has not yet played this season after suffering a torn hamstring but he will compete for a place in Antonio Conte’s side, who are competing strongly for a top-four finish and are also in the Champions League knockout stages.
Tottenham supporters were left questioning on social media why the club did not push more to sign Barkley, who was available at a snip of a price.
Some even went as far to say that all hopes of competing in the transfer market for proven Premier League players had disappeared in light of the transfer news.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
Completely flabbergasted that Spurs are seemingly allowing Ross Barkley to join Chelsea.
Club have wanted the player since the spring and unless Poch has had a recent change of heart, the failure to sign the midfielder will anger him massively.#THFC #COYS
— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) January 4, 2018
Very strange if is. He's wanted him for ages.
— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) January 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/jamesharvey14/status/949199591609597952
Surely the issue is going to be down to wages, I bet we’re offering the same as Everton offered. No doubt Chelsea are doubling it
— Joe Whistler (@Joe_Whistlerr) January 5, 2018
If Chelsea is already in for Barkley, I do not see Spurs bothering any longer to sign him. At £15M, it’s all about wages and we cannot compete with them on that.
— Jide (@JideHowardChase) January 5, 2018
The type of midfielder we need to replace Dembele, who seems to be falling apart (sadly). Spurs won't be making the top 6 at this rate, let alone 4.
— Bazza7676 (@Bazza7676) January 5, 2018
particularly given Poch just went v public on needing players signed in Jan. Feels like he and we are puppets in the grand ENIC billion £ profit extravaganza.
— Ben Harris (@_Ben_Harris) January 5, 2018
Undoubtedly a better player than Sissoko, still leaves a sour taste
— Glasgow RK Spurs (@GlasgowRKSpurs) January 5, 2018