Chelsea reportedly failed with a late attempt to hijack Mathys Tel’s move to Tottenham.
The French forward completed a loan move to Spurs from Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day.
Tel has joined the club until the end of the season with an option to buy included in the deal.
However, he could have emulated Willian by snubbing Spurs for the Blues at the last minute.
According to L’Equipe, Chelsea attempted to hijack the deal whilst Tel was waiting to fly to London.
Their approach came too late, though, as the player had already chosen to join Spurs.
Manchester United had also shown an interest in the 19-year-old before he was convinced who to join by Ange Postecoglou.
Chelsea’s surprise move shows similarities to their signing of Willian back in 2013.
The Brazilian infamously spent hours undergoing a medical with Spurs before hopping in a van to drive and join the Blues instead.
Meanwhile, Tel is now in line to make his debut for his new club this week.
He could feature as early as Thursday, with Spurs facing Liverpool in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
As for Chelsea, missing out on Tel meant Enzo Maresca’s side completed just one signing in January.
Midfielder Mathis Amougou arrived on an eight-year deal from Saint-Etienne on deadline day.
The teenager is a French youth international and had already made 17 Ligue 1 appearances this term.
In terms of outgoings, Chelsea sold Cesare Casadei to Torino during the mid-season window.
There were also a string of loan departures up to the window closing.
Axel Disasi, Joao Felix, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell and Caleb Wiley have all departed on deals until the end of the season.