Chelsea made an ambitious attempt to sign James Garner from Everton on Deadline Day, but the Toffees firmly rejected the approach, stating he was not for sale. Garner emerged as a late target for the Blues as they sought to fill the void left by Enzo Fernandez, who was sold to Manchester City without a replacement.

Reportedly, Chelsea considered a bid of around £65m for the talented midfielder, who has been described as the ‘mystery’ player in their transfer plans. According to talkSPORT, Xabi Alonso valued Garner for his versatility, as he can play both in midfield and as a full-back.

Despite the potential benefits of signing Garner, Chelsea fans expressed disappointment over the failed move, viewing it as a possible panic buy. Many believe it might be wiser for the club to reassess their options for the January transfer window.

In addition to Garner, Chelsea faced setbacks with other targets, notably missing out on Lamine Camara after Monaco canceled the deal at the last minute.

Looking ahead, Chelsea is reportedly eyeing Pablo Barrios from Atletico Madrid as a primary target for the upcoming January window, although negotiations may prove challenging given the club's recent resistance to interest in him.