Bristol City boss Lee Johnson claims that the Championship club cam close to sealing Callum Hudson-Odoi on loan from Chelsea this season.
The Robins took Chelsea left-back Jay Dasilva on loan for the 2018/19 campaign, while also adding defender Tomas Kalas to their ranks from the Blues.
However, Chelsea have tried to sign Hudson-Odoi to a long-term deal throughout the season, which would have included him being loaned out or the campaign.
That didn't happen and the contract situation is getting towards the end of its issue, with the 18-year-old's current deal running out in the summer of 2020.
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Hudson-Odoi is yet to start in the Premier League for the Blues, however he did start for England on Monday night and impressed in Gareth Southgate's side.
If he had gone on loan, however, his current trajectory might well have been a lot different, and Johnson insisted that they did try to get the young winger but realised when it might not go through.
"There's a little bit of truth, yeah," said Johnson to the Bristol Post on Wednesday afternoon.
"Obviously there are agents and he was a player that we were very keen to bring to the football club.
"His brother is a family friend of mine as well.
"Yeah, he's a top talent. And he scored two or three in one of the games I was watching - and I thought 'oh no'.
"Sarri had just entered the fray and he made a fantastic first impression and it probably killed our chances of bringing him in."
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