Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed that Chelsea passed up the opportunity to sign Nabil Fekir over the summer.
The 25-year-old midfielder appeared destined to be heading to the Premier League at one stage, with Liverpool leading the race for his signature.
Medical issues were to scupper that deal , though, and the 25-year-old was left in limbo as he helped France to World Cup glory in Russia.
Goal then revealed in August that Chelsea had rejected the chance to make a move after holding initial transfer talks.
Aulas has now admitted that was the case, telling reporters at the announcement of a new contract for Lyon centre-half Mariano: "In the beginning, when we thought about our summer transfer window and how to organise the future squad, we thought that he [Fekir] was practically gone.