Everton transfer news: Toffees were on the brink of signing Thomas Vermaelen but Barcelona blocked the move on transfer deadline day

EVERTON failed in a deadline day bid to land ex-Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen, according to reports.

Toffees boss Ronald Koeman wanted to add a left-sided defender to his squad despite signing eight first-team players this summer.

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Everton held extensive talks with Barcelona over a potential loan move with a view to a permanent deal.

But according to the Liverpool Echo, the Spanish side decided to block the move and instead opted to send Marlon Santos to Nice.

Vermaelen, 31, has made just seven league starts for Barca since joining the club in the summer of 2014.

His time at the Nou Camp has been marred with a string on injuries and he was shipped out on loan to Roma last season where he failed to break into the first-team.

Koeman will be disappointed in failing to land the experienced Belgian having worked with him before.

The Dutch boss handed Vermaelen his Ajax debut 13 years ago and was on the brink of reuniting with the defender.

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Meanwhile Everton ace Ross Barkley has spoken out on his collapsed move to Chelsea. 

The England international supposedly underwent a medical in the final few hours of deadline day at Chelsea's Cobham training ground before deciding against signing for Antonio Conte's side.

But Barkley insists that he "did not undertake a medical with any club at any point" and will decide his future when he recovers from a hamstring injury in January.