Chelsea reportedly tried to shift Ross Barkley to West Bromwich Albion on transfer deadline day.
The 27-year-old has not played a minute of Premier League football this season and does not appear to be in the plans of head coach Thomas Tuchel moving forward.
According to The Telegraph, the Blues attempted to offload the Englishman to West Brom on loan before the transfer window closed, but the attacker's salary scuppered the deal.
The report claims that the Championship outfit made it clear that they would not be able to get anywhere near the £110,000 a week that Barkley currently collects in the English capital.
Barkley, who still has two years left to run on his contract with Chelsea, spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, scoring three times and contributing one assist in 24 appearances.
The midfielder has scored 11 times and contributed 11 assists in 86 appearances for the Blues since arriving from Everton in January 2018.