Chelsea News: Ross Barkley didn’t join because of FAILED medical - McGarry

That is according to journalist Ian McGarry, who believes the line that Barkley changed his mind over a move is wrong.

Everton and Chelsea agreed a £35million deal for Barkley on deadline day and the player headed to Cobham for a medical.

The deal was set to be concluded in the late hours of the Thursday but in a surprise twist Barkley was said to have refused the move.

Everton had been keen to sell the England international all summer and did not pull the plug on the switch.

Instead, McGarry reckons it was Chelsea who got cold feet after assessing Barkley during the medical.

“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,” McGarry told The Transfer Window podcast.

“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.”