Reliable football Journalist Ian McGarry has claimed that Ross Barkley’s transfer to Chelsea did not go ahead because the player failed his medical. He also added that the reports which are currently stating that Barkley was the one who turned down the move, are wrong.
Everton accepted a £35 million bid for Barkley on deadline day and the 23-year-old headed to Cobham for a medical. Many reports have since suggested that the deal ended up not going ahead after Barkley rejected the move at the last minute.
McGarry, however, has not bought into this story and he believes that it was Chelsea who were the ones to pull out of the move after assessing Barkley’s fitness.
He said, “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.
“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.”
Considering that the England international Barkley is set to be out of action for the next three months, McGarry’s claims could hold the truth.
