A Chelsea director has revealed that the club has failed in attempts to sign two of the League’s biggest talents in the past.
Michael Emenalo revealed that the club have tried to sign both Wayne Rooney and John Stones in the past.
The technical director revealed that the bid for Rooney was rejected in 2013, whilst the move for Stones failed only in the summer.
Despite summer’s failed bids, Emenalo believes that Chelsea can still do well in the Premier League this season, citing the failure to sign Rooney in 2013 as proof it can be done.
“We understand as a club this is football and you don’t always get what you want – and that is not to suggest that we didn’t get what we want. We understand that as long as we have done things right and made the right effort there is no need to have regrets,” Emenalo told The Telegraph.
“A couple of years ago [summer of 2013] it was well documented we tried to get [Wayne] Rooney. We didn’t get Rooney and we still finished second and started strongly, so there is no correlation between whether we had a big transfer window or not.
“What is important to understand is that as a club we work as a unit to try to get things done and get it done the right way.
“We didn’t get Stones, not because we didn’t want him but because Everton didn’t want to sell Stones.”
After 12 games Chelsea sit 16th, 12 points behind Manchester United in fourth.