Barnsley have been priced out of signing Daryl Dike says chief executive Dane Murphy who added: 'sometimes football is just about hard figures.’
The American striker netted nine goals for the Reds after signing on loan from Orlando City on February 1. They had a fee agreed to sign him permanently but could not agree personal terms so have pulled out of the deal.
Murphy told the Chronicle: "Daryl’s performance was so strong in the short time he was with us that other clubs, bigger fish so to speak, have come in and offered alluring personal teams which we couldn’t get anywhere near. The wages that have been thrown across to him by other clubs turned the deal into something which Barnsley, at this point, just can’t afford. It would take us outside what we’re trying to do as a club.
"Between ourselves, Daryl and Orlando we realised the best thing was for Daryl to try and seek out a different future. We wish Daryl was still with us, he was fantastic for us and he still had room to grow with us but sometimes football is just about hard figures.”
Some have questioned why Barnsley did not have personal terms agreed with Dike for a permanent deal when the loan was agreed. Murphy said it was not possible with the timings of the deal, as Dike was only eligible to sign for the Reds after making his international debut less than 24 hours before the UK transfer deadline.
Murphy said: "You can do that in some instances but everything with Daryl was such fine margins in a very short window of time to do the deal. There are certain aspects we would have had to agree with Orlando and MLS. It was difficult to get it all done in time. We decided to get him here with an option then see if we could figure out the personal terms later. Unfortunately we haven’t been able to do that.”
Murphy also denied suggestions of a multi-million loan fee, saying: "There was no loan fee at all. The total cost of the deal was far below what anyone would probably believe if I said it.”
