Everton director of football Marcel Brands has denied reports that inflated agent fees, which proved prohibitive to Manchester United, were involved in the transfer of Yerry Mina from Barcelona to Goodison Park.
The Toffees completed the €32 million (£29m/$37m) signing of Mina following the end of the World Cup, during which the defender impressed for Colombia.
Reports since the transfer have claimed that United baulked at demands from the player's representative, as they failed to secure a central defender during a summer marred by inactivity.
Indeed, deals for Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld, Leicester City's Harry Maguire and Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng also failed to materialise, with Jose Mourinho reportedly disappointed that no such player was acquired.