Zenit St Petersburg general director Maxim Mitrofanov has revealed that Stoke City made an offer for Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel in the January transfer window.
Witsel, 27, was the subject of a bid in the region of £12m, according to Zenit, but the Russian club were not interested in parting company with the experienced midfielder.
"There was an offer from the Stoke City. They offered about €15m-16m (£11m-12.5m). No other proposals took place," Mitrofanov told Tass.
Stoke instead pursued Giannelli Imbula and signed the 23-year-old from Porto for a club-record £18.3m.