Rennes defender Joris Gnagnon has admitted he was flattered by transfer interest from Chelsea during the summer despite opting to stay with his current club.
The 20-year-old looks one of Ligue 1’s most exciting young prospects at the moment, making 30 appearances in all competitions in a breakthrough season last year.
SFR Sport claim Chelsea were one of a number of clubs to have enquired about Gnagnon at the end of last season, and the player himself confirmed their interest.
The France Under-20 international says he felt he’d be better off continuing to play regularly with his current club for one more season at least, opening the door to a potential move next summer.
It remains to be seen if Chelsea would be his preferred destination, as he also mentioned Borussia Dortmund as an option, but he called the Blues’ interest in him ‘flattering’ and hinted this could be his final campaign with Rennes.
‘I played my first season (at Rennes), then the second. I hear we’re talking about Chelsea and many other clubs, for sure it’s very flattering. I was happy,’ he told Foot Mercato.
‘After that, I had to look the truth in the face, that is, if I went to Chelsea right away, I was not sure I would be playing. You’re going to (Borussia) Dortmund, you’re not sure you’re playing either. Whether I went to the right or left, I was not sure I was playing.
Chelsea 2017/18 Fixtures
Newcastle (A) - Sun May 13
‘I weighed up the pros and cons with my entourage and my agent and we thought that it was better to do one more season at Rennes.
‘It was not easy but we had to make a choice.’
MORE : Willian speaks out on Diego Costa’s Chelsea exit
MORE : Chelsea new-boy slammed by former manager
Share this with