The biggest mystery of the deadline day was how Barkley supposedly “changed” his mind mid-medical and rejected a move to the champions.
Ross Barkley was all set to become a Chelsea player with the move collapsing on the 11th hour of the deadline day, with some reports even suggesting that the player had made his way to Cobham for medical.
Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri had claimed that the 23-year-old, currently out injured as well as being out of favour under boss Ronald Koeman, will now assess his options when the January window opens after undergoing a medical at Chelsea, something Barkley now flatly denies.
“The two clubs agreed on a deal of £35m and I think personal terms were agreed,” Moshiri told Sky Sports News. “After the medical, we heard from Paul Martin, Ross Barkley’s agent, that he had changed his mind and wanted to reconsider his position in the January window.
“He’s currently injured so technically he will be with us, he is under contract for another year. It’s a big surprise, but that’s football.”
Barkley took to social media to offer some clarification on the incident.
“Contrary to a number of reports in the press, I did not undertake a medical with any club at any point,” he wrote on Twitter. “I simply decided that due to my injury, it would be best to make a decision on my future and assess all my options in January when fully fit.
“Thanks for all of the support.”
Journalist Ian McGarry believed that he did not go reject the Blues but rather failed a medical at Cobham.
What’s bizarre is the fact the fee was agreed with Everton, the personal terms were agreed because if they hadn’t have been the player would not have travelled 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.”
Chelsea could still come back to sign the youngster in January when he will have just 6 months left on his contract or they could take him for free at the end of the season but they will have to compete with Tottenham as well for his signature,
