Premier League side Southampton is continuing "to hold out" for close to £5M ($7.3M) in compensation from Everton for Ronald Koeman "amid an internal sense" that it was misled and that its manager is "leaving for financial reasons, according to Jeremy Wilson of the London TELEGRAPH.
Negotiations "have gone into a fifth day with Everton over the detail of Koeman’s severance" and, while his appointment at Goodison Park should be confirmed in the next 48 hours, Southampton feels "deeply let down by the manner of his departure."
It was widely reported that Koeman was Everton’s leading choice to replace Martinez on May 13 and, later that day, he told reporters that "he expected to stay at Southampton." But then, when he returned from holiday last week, it was clear that Koeman "wanted to talk to Everton." Southampton believes that the money available at Everton -- understood to be £7M ($10.2M) a year, as well as the promise of a huge transfer budget -- "were decisive."
Koeman "had a year left to run" on his annual £3.5M ($5.1M) contract but, with his brother, Erwin, and fitness coach Jan Kluitenberg "expected also to join him at Everton as part of his backroom staff," the total bill is likely to be around £5M (TELEGRAPH, 6/7).
