Chelsea coach Christophe Lollichon has revealed that Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola wanted to join the Blues in the summer.

Speaking to the French media, the club’s head of goalkeeping said he was also keen for the 25-year-old to move to Stamford Bridge, but the Blues opted to go in a different direction:

“We spoke a lot in the summer. He wanted to come here but the final decision was not my responsibility. It would have been a pleasure to work with him.”

Areola was replaced as number one at PSG by Italian veteran Gianluigi Buffon at the start of the season, but the keeper has impressed whilst on international duty this week.

The Frenchman was given his first senior cap by Didier Deschamps in France’s opening UEFA Nations League match against Germany on Thursday night. He put in a stand-out display making a number of top-drawer saves to keep the game level at 0-0.

Chelsea opted to sign Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga instead of Areola, paying a world record fee for a goalkeeper as they sought to replace Thibaut Courtois following the Belgian’s departure to Real Madrid.