Marcelo Brozovic has delivered a blow to Chelsea by signing a new deal with Inter Milan.
According to a report in The Sun Chelsea were preparing to make an offer for the midfielder in January after failing with a bid during the summer.
Brozovic is in his third season with Inter since signing from Dinamo Zagreb but has opted to sign a deal keeping him at the San Siro until 2021.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has watched the 24-year-old blossom in Serie A despite the struggles of Inter Milan which resulted in the sacking of Ronald de Boer earlier in the season.
Brozovic has been one of the few Inter players to have did himself justice with the club going into matchday six of their Europa League campaign rooted in bottom place.
One win in five matches is hardly the form of recent Champions League winners who lost both matches to Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel.