Chelsea endured a dramatic end to the transfer window, landing Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater but missing out on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who joined Liverpool, Fernando Llorente, who moved to Spurs, and Ross Barkley.

The latter of that trio caught the most headlines as it’s claimed the England international changed his mind on moving to Stamford Bridge midway through a medical, instead electing to stay at Goodison Park with Everton.

That came as a huge surprise as Barkley had been angling for a transfer away from Merseyside all summer but the claim that he snubbed a move is being argued by one particular journalist, who believes it was Chelsea that pulled a plug on a deal.

Ian McGarry instead believes Barkley failed his medical at Chelsea’s training ground and the Blues pulled out of a deal as a result, as they were concerned about the player’s fitness. Speaking recently, he said:

“What’s bizarre is the fact the fee was agreed with Everton, the personal terms were agreed because if they hand’t have been the player would not have traveled for a medical. This is a player who Ronald Koeman said the day the transfer window opened would 100 per cent leave Everton this summer.” “That’s an unusual statement for a manager to make. And yet again it comes down to hours and minutes before the deadline that Chelsea make a bid which is accepted by Everton and try to progress on the transfer.” “We also know Barkley is suffering from a hamstring injury which in all likelihood will keep him out until November at the earliest. If I’m a buying club why am I buying an injured player who cannot play for the next three months of the season, pay £35m for him and put him on a substantial wage of £155,000 a week – only then to find out he may aggravate his hamstring injury at some stage of his rehab and could be out for the season?” “People are saying Barkley changed his mind. But he didn’t because he accepted personal terms and went for his medical. What went on there is the medical was failed and Chelsea have pulled out of the deal because the injury was more serious than they had been led to believe. Therefore they decided themselves not to progress.”

These beliefs certainly make more sense and Barkley is no under pressure to prove himself this year, before potentially making a move away from Everton in the January transfer window.