Paris Saint-Germain have failed with an appeal to push through the proposed loan signing of Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech.
On Monday evening, reports emerged that PSG had put the wheels in motion to secure a deal for Ziyech, who was free to leave Chelsea.
However, despite it being accepted that any deal would be a straight loan, it was claimed in France that Chelsea were being 'greedy' during negotiations.
The subsequent delays led to the late exchanging of documents between the relevant parties, but it appears that a transfer would still go through as planned.
That was until it emerged that Chelsea officials have sent over the wrong document on several occasions, resulting in the deal not being processed before the deadlines that were in place.
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This occurred when Ziyech was said to be present in the PSG offices, awaiting for the signing to be finalised, but it left the Ligue 1 leaders needing to appeal to LFP on Wednesday in a bid to get a transfer over the line.
Now, it is widely reported that PSG failed in their efforts, resulting in Ziyech now having to return to Chelsea where he is now likely to be significantly down the pecking order.
According to L'Equipe, Chelsea lawyers twice returned documents to PSG without a necessary signature, and the deadline had passed once the correction had been made.
A separate source is said to have told The Athletic that it had been 'a Class A circus', while another has indicated to Sky Sports News journalist Kaveh Solhekol that PSG are unlikely to conduct business with Chelsea in the future.
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Solhekol quotes a source as saying: "Last night was an absolute shambles. Chelsea will not darken PSG's doorstep ever again. This is not how you do business or treat a player."
While PSG are arguably well placed to cope with failing to add Ziyech to their squad, the player is now left in a position where game time will likely be limited for the remainder of 2022-23.
Chelsea have signed Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Joao Felix to boost their numbers in the final third, and they will all be considered for selection ahead of Ziyech.
With Chelsea only able to make three changes to their Champions League squad, it remains to be seen whether Ziyech will be kept in the permitted group or have to sit out the rest of the club's European fixtures.
Darren Plant
