Chelsea were reeling on Thursday night after their £35million move for Ross Barkley collapsed at the last minute.
The Premier League champions, who also lost Swansea striker Fernando Llorente to Tottenham, had agreed a deal with Everton for Barkley in the hours before the 11pm transfer deadline and the midfielder travelled to London.
Barkley, who has also been the subject of interest from Spurs, agreed personal terms and it was claimed he had taken a medical before he went cold on the idea of moving to Stamford Bridge.
Sources close to the England international insist he never went as far as taking a medical and wants to consider his position in January, when he will have six months left on his contract.