Chelsea wanted to sign Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule in the summer transfer window, according to the German international's agent Karlheinz Forster.
Sule, who was part of the Germany team that won silver at the Olympic Games in Rio, was reportedly the subject of a £25m bid from Antonio Conte's side in the latter stages of August.
Sule ultimately remained with his German club, but Forster has revealed that the Premier League outfit remain interested in his client, who came through the youth system at Hoffenheim before making his first-team debut in 2013.
"Yes, there was interest. The English have made it clear they'll still be interested next year," Forster told Bild.
Sule was not part of the Germany squad that reached the final of Euro 2016, but has since made his international debut for the world champions.