Luke Hatfield revealed he was left flabbergasted with reports linking Ross Barkley to West Brom.

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea offered the midfielder to the Baggies, but his £110,000-per-week wages scuppered any possibility of a deal.

What's the latest news with Barkley?

Less than two years ago, Barkley was starring for England, scoring two goals in a qualifier against Bulgaria, and was on course for a starting place in Gareth Southgate's squad.

However, Chelsea couldn't give Barkley away in the recent window, despite the former Evertonian being linked with several Premier League sides, including West Ham, Newcastle and Burnley.

With Thomas Tuchel's side unable to find a suitable loan move for the midfielder, he's remained at Stamford Bridge, and whilst he was included in the squad that beat Aston Villa on Saturday, Barkley is still waiting for his first minutes under the German.

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ENTER GIVEAWAY

It's never quite happened for Barkley since his move from boyhood club Everton almost four years ago, and the deadline day arrival of Saul Niguez doesn't suggest that his situation is going to improve any time soon.

Barkley might get the odd appearance in the Carabao Cup or even the Champions League following the Blues' kind group stage draw, but he'll surely already be looking towards a January exit.

What has Hatfield said about Barkley?

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To put it lightly, Hatfield was stunned to see the 27-year-old linked with a move to the Hawthorns.

He told GIVEMESPORT: "I was a little flabbergasted when I saw those reports. He's on big money at Chelsea, so it didn't surprise me at all that any idea of a move to Albion, regardless of whether Chelsea would pay half of his wages, it just wouldn't work."

Was there any chance Barkley ended up at West Brom?

Whilst Barkley desperately needed to get out on loan and play regular first-team football, a move to West Brom was simply never going to happen.

As Hatfield stated, his massive wages were never likely to be affordable for the Baggies, whilst Barkley himself knows that dropping into the Championship would damage his chances of getting an England recall even further.

Playing in the Championship is far better than sitting on the bench for Chelsea, though.