SIMPLE TRUTH IS UNHAPPY STARS DON’T PLAY WELL

THE deals which did not happen in the transfer window almost become bigger stories than the ones that did.

Ross Barkley (above), Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez stayed put for different reasons when deals looked likely before the deadline ended.

Barkley, still recovering from a hamstring injury, was courted by Chelsea and may yet end up at Tottenham in January.

Costa’s remarkable stand-off at Chelsea continues to see him left in exile after a deadline-day move to Atletico Madrid failed to materialise. It may cost him a place in the Spain squad for the World Cup.

Sanchez stayed at Arsenal, despite Manchester City’s late £60million bid, but it remains to be seen whether he will perform at the Emirates for the remaining 12 months of his contract.

It highlights the madness of the transfer window, which can wreak havoc on players’ careers.

There is no doubt that a fully fit and in-form Barkley goes to the World Cup because he is a brilliant midfielder.

But he surely needs a fresh start yet Spurs could not agree a deal, nor could Chelsea. The Premier League is now so competitive that a transfer from one top-six club to another could backfire spectacularly – and clubs hate selling to rivals in any case.

Lucas Perez eventually left Arsenal to rejoin former club Deportivo La Coruna on a season-long loan, just a year after joining for £17m.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman (below) tried to sign him late on, but Arsenal refused as it would strengthen the Merseyside club. Perez barely got a look-in at Arsenal and went from being a player who moved to the Premier League to press his claims for Spain to being forgotten about.

Arsenal eventually sold Alex Oxlade Chamberlain to Liverpool for £40m but, initially, they did not want him to move to Anfield.

The fact they allowed him to play in Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Arsenal is mystifying and almost unfair on the player because his mind was already elsewhere.

The moral of the most incredible transfer window we have ever seen is that a player can only play with his mind fully on the job.

You suspect that Costa, Barkley and Sanchez will only return to their best when their futures are truly resolved.