Posted by Accra Hearts of Oak on Friday announced the departure of 5 players, amongst the list of 5 players is star man Joseph Esso.
The news has left a lot of the club followers dumbfounded, but the reason behind his shocking departure has been revealed.
According to renown sports journalist Saddick Adams, also know as Sports Obama, the Phobians parted ways to the exceptional forward due to his ‘ludicrous’ salary demands.
Esso was initially on a GH₵ 1,500 monthly salary. Hearts of Oak proposed a 3 year contract extension with a salary of GH₵ 2,000 and a signing fee of GH₵ 60,000 for the 3 years, that is GH₵ 20,000 each season.
The player wanted a contract extension of only a year or two. Also a salary of GH₵ 4,500 and GH₵ 50,000 signing fee per season.
Hearts insisted they were not in the position to meet the demands. The Phobians however increased the salary to GH₵ 2,500 and offered a signing fee of GH₵ 30,000 per season, but the player’s management and club couldn’t come to agreement.
Esso joined Hearts of Oak from Ebusua Dwarfs in February 2018 and instantly became an integral member of the team and a fan’s favorite.
He scored 3 goals in his 14 appearances for Hearts of Oak in the trucated 2019/20 Ghana Premier League season.
The 23-year-old was a member of the team that represented Ghana at the WAFU Championship in Senegal last year. He netted two goals and inspired the Black Stars B team to the finals losing to eventual winners Senegal.
The Phobians have also parted ways with Benjamin Agyare, Christopher Bonney, Bernard Arthur and Abubakar Traore.