Chelsea news: Conte left out of Barkley talks, Oxlade-Chamberlain fuelled dismay - report

Chelsea thought they had a deal in place to sign the Everton star on deadline day, but a move collapsed after Barkley pulled out of a medical and headed back to Goodison Park.

Instead, the Italian tactician secured deals for Torino defender Davide Zappacosta and Leicester star Danny Drinkwater, although the latter happened after the window closed at 11pm.

Barkley was also chased by Tottenham, and the midfielder, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, supposedly prefers a move to north London.

Prior to the Barkley saga, Conte got in touch with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain about a move to Stamford Bridge.

However, after failing to guarantee him a role in his favoured position, the former Arsenal star snubbed the Blues and chose Liverpool.

And according to The Times, Conte was left out of discussions with Barkley as the board didn’t want a repeat of the Oxlade-Chamberlain blunder.

Barkley, the report suggests, requested to speak to Conte, and part of his decision to reject the Blues was because he didn’t speak to the manager.

It is also suggested the Blues understand Barkley wants more time to consider his future.

Recent reports have suggested Chelsea will resurrect their interest in the England international in January.

Joey Barton suggested yesterday that Conte gave Barkley the cold shoulder during negotiations.

He told talkSPORT: “I heard a really interesting thing about what happened with the Ross Barkley transfer. Conte turned his phone off and Barkley's representatives were trying to contact him.

"He wanted to say 'look, where am I going to play', and Conte turned his phone off.

"That is why Barkley got cold feet and never signed.

“He thought, 'well, if the manager isn't answering the phone to me he clearly doesn’t want me', and that is why he went back to Everton."