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Chelsea had a tough transfer window. The Blues made some really good signings but at the same time, so many of their top targets have not joined them.
Antonio Conte made a list of the players he wanted to be signed before the season began but it took the club until the last day of the window to secure the signing of Danny Drinkwater – a target from last summer.
On top of that, they were rejected by several other players. Here are 5 players who rejected a move to Chelsea this summer:
#5 - Ross Barkley
Chelsea and Everton agreed a £35 million deal on the final day of the window for Ross Barkley. The English midfielder was on his way to Stamford Bridge but decided not to sign for them at the last moment.
Some reports said that he walked away during the medical at Chelsea but the player came out and tweeted that he never underwent any medical. He claimed that the only reason why he rejected the move way because he wanted to keep his options open and only move when he was fully fit.
Reports now suggest that Barkley decided against the move as he could not get in touch with Antonio Conte. The Italian manager was in Italy with his family, away from the transfer business on deadline day.
#4 - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Antonio Conte was keen on signing a wing-back and Chelsea circled in on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The English midfielder was in his final year of contract at Arsenal and wanted to leave.
Chelsea took advantage of this situation and agreed a £35 million deal with the Gunners for him. The player too was keen on joining the Premier League champions but after holding talks with Antonio Conte, he decided not to move to Stamford Bridge.
He rejected the move as he wanted to play as a central midfielder while Conte saw his as a wing-back. The Gunners then agreed a £40 million deal with Liverpool and the Englishman moved there.
He's been offered the central midfield role but with Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho, Georginio Wijnaldum and Marko Gruji? in the squad already, he's going to find it difficult to make into the starting XI.
#3 - Alex Sandro
Chelsea's #1 target for the summer was undoubtedly Alex Sandro. The Brazilian left-back was the subject of several bids by the club with a stunning €80 million bid also tabled.
Juventus were ready to sell him to Chelsea but only if he wanted to move to. The Serie A champions asked the player what he wanted to do when Chelsea made the €80 million and he decided that he wanted to stay in Turin.
Chelsea were ready to double his wages and also make his the world's most expensive defender but he decided to stay at Juventus as the club had already lost Dani Alves and Leonardo Bonucci. Antonio Conte was left disappointed and decided not to pursue any other left-back.
#2 - Virgil van Dijk
When Liverpool publically apologized for 'tapping up' Van Dijk, Chelsea made a move to sign him. The Premier League champions and Southampton were in active talks for the player and were close to agreeing a fee.
However, Van Dijk decided that he did not want to move to Stamford Bridge. He rejected the chance to join them as he only wanted to join Liverpool.
Van Dijk then handed in a transfer request to force a move to Liverpool. Southampton went on to reject his transfer request and made it clear that they will not be selling him at any cost in the summer.
The window is not closed and the Dutch defender is still at St Mary's. How the Southampton players will react to him heading back in training is going to be very interesting to see.
#1 - Romelu Lukaku
While Antonio Conte was insisting on getting Alvaro Morata, Chelsea board members, and especially Michael Emenalo, were determined to Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian was in talks with the club for a long time and was keen on re-joining them.
But when Jose Mourinho called, things changed. Lukaku rejected the approach from Chelsea and decided to force a move to Manchester United instead. Paul Pogba also played a huge role in changing his mind as the two were spending their vacation together in the USA.
Chelsea went on to get Alvaro Morata itself from Real Madrid. They paid £58 million for him – £17 million less than what United paid for Lukaku.
