Chelsea reportedly made an 11th-hour attempt to sign Everton midfielder James Garner before the transfer window closed, according to talkSPORT.
The 25-year-old has become one of the most productive midfielders in the Premier League after establishing himself as a key starter at Goodison Park.
Last season, Garner scored three goals and registered seven assists in 41 appearances across all competitions, cementing his reputation as a well-rounded midfielder.
Chelsea’s interest intensified following the departure of Enzo Fernandez, who left the club to join Manchester City, leaving a clear gap in Xabi Alonso’s midfield options.
Alonso was particularly attracted by Garner’s versatility, with the Englishman capable of operating both in midfield and at right-back, giving the manager tactical flexibility.
Chelsea were prepared to spend around £65m to secure Garner’s signature, representing a significant investment in addressing their midfield shortcomings before the deadline.
However, Everton firmly rejected the approach, refusing to let Garner leave so late in the window after recently handing him a fresh contract through to 2030.
Following Fernandez’s exit, Chelsea moved to sign Jordan Henderson after allowing Andrey Santos to join Manchester United, leaving Alonso with limited central midfield options.
The Blues currently have Moisés Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Dario Essugo alongside Henderson available in midfield, though Lavia and Essugo have suffered fitness problems in recent years.
Caicedo also picked up an injury against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, adding further concern about Chelsea’s depth in the middle of the park.
Henderson, meanwhile, has reached the latter stages of his career, raising further questions about whether Chelsea’s midfield is adequately equipped for the demands of a long season.
Garner’s ability to play threading passes, contribute defensively, score from distance, and deliver set-pieces made him an ideal candidate to fill the void left by Fernandez.
The Englishman is considered to be at the prime stage of his career and would have represented a significant addition to Alonso’s squad had the deal been concluded.
Chelsea now turn their attention to a Premier League clash against Arsenal next weekend, following their 4-3 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.