Chelsea hold no interest in Fekir, says Lyon chief

The classy playmaker was widely expected to leave Lyon this summer, having been a whisker away from joining Liverpool, only for the Merseysiders to pull out with a medical completed and personal terms agreed.

Now, Aulas has admitted that Lyon themselves expected the player to leave, but rejected speculation that Chelsea could be the next side to offer him an exit route.

"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," Aulas explained.

"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]."

The 25-year-old shone in Ligue 1 last season and returned to domestic action last Friday as Lyon defeated Strasbourg 2-0.

Chelsea striker and Fekir's France international team-mate Olivier Giroud confirmed that he had spoken to the Lyon star earlier this month about a move to Stamford Bridge.

"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."

However, it appears that Giroud's efforts were in vain.