Chelsea
have rejected the chance to sign France World Cup winner Nabil Fekir,
according to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.
It follows Liverpool's decision to pull out of a deal for the 25-year-old
this summer, after it was reported that he underwent a medical and agreed
personal terms with the club.
Aulas said: "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.
"That's why we have been able to adapt things. We spoke with Chelsea
representatives, and they had no interest at all in him.
"From then on, we realised we could change our plans [as he would stay]."
Fekir returned to Ligue 1 action for Lyon last Friday in their 2-0 win over
Strasbourg.
Earlier this month, his France team-mate Olivier Giroud admitted that he had
spoken to Fekir about joining Chelsea.
"I spoke to him when we were together in the French national team, when his
move to Liverpool fell through," he told Foot Mercato.
"Then we discussed Chelsea, and I even think that Eden said a couple of
words to him. We would obviously welcome him, he is a super player."
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