Chelsea made a late £65million attempt to sign Everton midfielder James Garner as their search for an Enzo Fernandez replacement descended into deadline-day chaos.
The identity of Chelsea’s previously unnamed Premier League midfield target has now emerged, with talkSPORT reporting that the Blues tried to sign Garner during the final hours of the window.
Everton rejected the approach and refused to sell the 25-year-old.
Chelsea made a late attempt to sign James Garner from Everton on deadline day. Chelsea valued the midfielder at £65 million but the approach was rejected by the club with Garner also being happy on Merseyside 🔵 pic.twitter.com/6ec6BBkFlT
— The Bobble (@ElBobble) September 2, 2026
Chelsea turned to James Garner after Camara problems
Chelsea entered the closing stages of deadline day knowing Fernandez was heading to Manchester City in a £125m transfer.
Their preferred replacement appeared to be Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara.
The Blues eventually reached a written £47m agreement for the Senegal international, only for Monaco to pull out of the Camara transfer at the last moment.
Chelsea were also looking elsewhere.
talkSPORT reports that a last-minute £65m bid was made for Garner, who had emerged as another potential option for Xabi Alonso’s midfield.
Everton had no intention of allowing him to leave and rejected Chelsea’s attempt.
Garner’s versatility would have been particularly attractive following Fernandez’s departure. The England international operates primarily in midfield but is also capable of covering at right-back.
The former Manchester United player ultimately remained at Everton, where he is under contract until 2030.
It means Chelsea failed with another substantial midfield approach before the window closed.
The Blues also saw their pursuit of Roma midfielder Manu Koné come to nothing, leaving Alonso with a significantly different midfield group following Fernandez’s departure.
Chelsea nevertheless chose to honour their agreement to sell the Argentine to Manchester City even after the Camara transfer collapsed.
Garner can now be added to the list of midfielders Chelsea explored as they desperately tried to complete their squad before the deadline.
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