Chelsea reportedly encountered a setback in the final hours of the transfer window after Everton rejected a bid to sign versatile midfielder James Garner.
The Blues made a dramatic late move for the 25-year-old Toffees star, valuing him at around £65 million.
Chelsea had identified Garner as a target to strengthen their midfield, but Everton officials quickly rejected the approach given his importance to manager David Moyes.
The Toffees made it clear that Garner is a key part of their plans and was not available for sale on deadline day.
With the transfer window closing rapidly, Everton were unwilling to lose a vital starter, especially given the difficulty of finding a replacement at such short notice.
In addition to Everton’s firm stance, Garner’s own position played a crucial role in ending Chelsea’s late pursuit.
The midfielder is settled on Merseyside, where he has become a key figure and a fan favourite. He was not looking to force an exit or uproot his life.
Time ultimately ran out for Chelsea to put together a deal persuasive enough to break Everton’s resolve or change Garner’s mind.
Chelsea also missed out on Lamine Camara after agreeing a £47m deal before Monaco pulled out at the last minute.
Having parted ways with Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea are light in midfield. Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson may need to play a bigger role than initially expected.
Meanwhile, Everton also suffered some late transfer disappointment due to Folarin Balogun’s refusal to go through with a move to Merseyside.
