Everton splash £12.5m on deadline day as they sign Aaron Lennon and Ramiro Funes Mori

Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2015 by Dailystar.co.uk

EVERTON boss Roberto Martinez splashed out £12.5m on deadline day as he landed Aaron Lennon and Ramiro Funes Mori.

But the Toffees chief failed to get the No 10 he had been chasing all summer.

Funes Mori, 24, put pen to paper on a five-year deal as Everton paid £9.5m to get the defender from River Plate.

The Argentina international said: "When I heard about Everton's interest, I didn't think twice.

"My agent told me about this opportunity and Everton did everything to bring me over and I wanted to come.

"I feel happy because the people here have shown me a lot of love and I'm very happy and comfortable here already.

SIGNINGS: Lennon and Mori have joined Everton

"Hopefully I can fit straight into the group, we can get along and do big things here."

Funes Mori has been brought in to give Phil Jagielka and John Stones cover in central defence.

There was a shock over the final fee as it was believed that the player would cost £6.25m.

But sources close to the deal claimed that the player was owed around 50 per cent of the fee as part of his contract with River Plate.

They say that Everton eventually had to pay this to push the deal through after the initial work permit issues were sorted out.

Senior sources at Goodison Park refused to confirm or deny the disclosure.

Lennon, 28, signed a three-year deal as Everton agreed an undisclosed fee for the winger after Tottenham cut their initial £9m valuation to around £3m.

The England international spent the second half of last season on loan at Goodison Park and Martinez wanted to bring him back, but Spurs' price tag put them off initially.

Martinez said: "Aaron had a major role in the second half of our season and we're looking forward to Aaron kicking on and continuing to enjoy his football, as well as being the productive player we know he can be.

"He is well-respected in the dressing room, his experience in the Premier League is immense and he will immediately add to our squad and to the ambition we have as a club."

Martinez had also set his sights on a No 10, but a deal could not be struck for Dynamo Kiev midfielder Andriy Yarmolenko and they rejected a late bid for Steven Naismith from Norwich yesterday.