Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj's agent has confirmed that Chelsea made an unsuccessful bid worth £43m for the player in the summer of 2018.
At the time, former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri had just joined the West London club and also brought Jorginho with him to Stamford Bridge.
The Serie A side now look set to see Hysaj leave the club for free once his contract expires at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Punto Nuovo, agent Mario Giuffredi said: "Whatever happens with him, the outcome will be great.
"If we leave, we'll do what we had to do in the summer. If we don't leave, Napoli will lose the player on a free transfer, but it'll always work out for us. A year-and-a-half ago, Napoli could've taken €50m from Chelsea. If Hysaj stays at Napoli, the Neapolitan club risks losing the player for nothing."
Chelsea did not sign any players over the most recent window due to a transfer ban that will be lifted next summer.
However, the Blues are confident that an appeal to the Court of Arbitration on November 20 will enable them to make signings over the January transfer window.
Leo Nieboer
