Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas has suggested that Nabil Fekir leaving for Chelsea never emerged as a realistic possibility.
The Ligue 1 outfit had seemingly been prepared to sell their star man to Liverpool earlier this summer before the transfer broke down before the World Cup.
Fekir was linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge towards the end of the transfer window, but despite discussions being held, Aulas has indicated that the Blues were not interested in the France international.
Aulas said: "In the beginning when we thought about our summer transfer window and how to organise the future squad, we thought that he 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."
Fekir still has two years remaining on his contract at Lyon.