According to reports in the Daily Mail, Everton midfielder Ross Barkley could miss out on a switch away from Goodison Park this summer after picking up a hamstring tear in training.

The Toffees star had been expected to leave the club this summer after turning down the chance to extend his contract which is due to run out next summer, with the Merseyside outfit keen to cash in on the £30m-rated player now instead of risking losing him for nothing in 2018.

The Daily Mail says that Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were all keen on the 23-year-old, but they may have to turn their attentions elsewhere with the England international facing a fight to be fully fit again by the start of October.

The Blues in particular are in need of strengthening their midfield following the departure of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United, new boy Tiemoue Bakayoko still returning from injury and Cesc Fabregas being sent off in the defeat against Burnley on Saturday, and they will need to turn their attentions elsewhere.

Here are three Ross Barkley alternatives Chelsea could sign…

Nabil Fekir

While he is a versatile attacking player that is comfortable playing as a centre-forward or as a winger, the Lyon star is starting to make his name in a more central attacking midfield role.

The 24-year-old was a key man for the Ligue 1 outfit last season after scoring 14 goals and providing a further 12 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions, and it seems as though the France international will stay in his new role after an outstanding start to the current campaign.

Fekir has scored two goals and provided one assist in the first two French top flight games of the new season, and he certainly looks as though he could make a big impact for Chelsea in the Premier League and in the Champions League, too.

Thorgan Hazard

Because he is Eden’s brother it is perhaps a lazy and obvious link, but Thorgan has done enough in the last few seasons with Borussia Monchengladbach to suggest that he is destined for bigger and better things, with all due respect.

The 24-year-old scored 11 goals and provided a further seven assists in 33 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga outfit last term, and like Fekir he can play in a number of roles across the frontline or in central attacking midfield.

Whether Chelsea would have planned to use Barkley alongside N’Golo Kante or further forward is unclear, but the Belgium international could bring a spark to a Blues side that was so disappointing in their defeat to Burnley last weekend.

Jean Seri

The Nice midfielder was one of the stand-out performers for the French side as they secured an impressive third-place finish in Ligue 1 last term.

The 26-year-old scored seven goals and provided a further nine assists from central midfield while he has also started the current campaign in fine form after picking up two assists in three outings – including a brilliant back-heel in his side’s Champions League qualification fixture against Ajax.

The Guardian says that Seri is available for £34m, but the report adds that Chelsea would face competition from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur if they wanted to bring the Ivory Coast international to the Premier League, and he would likely play an attacking role alongside N’Golo Kante in the middle of the park with the Blues.

Do you agree, Blues fans? Let us know below.