Chelsea made move to sign Arsen Zakharyan from Dynamo Moscow.

However, the transfer was blocked by British sanctions on Russia – despite the two clubs agreeing a fee.

Chelsea were expected to sign the 19-year-old Russian midfielder who’s seen as one of Russia’s most talented young players.

Chelsea had activated the midfielder’s £12.6m release clause, but with Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the deal didn’t go through.

Dynamo Moscow released a statement on their club website, thus: “On August 25 we received an offer from Chelsea for Arsen Zakharyan.

“For several days, there have been intense negotiations between Dynamo and Chelsea, in which our club took a constructive position.

“However, it is not possible to transfer a player in this summer transfer window for a number of technical reasons beyond our control.”

Renowned agent Rafaela Pimenta told Sport Express of the deal: “Today, it is impossible to close the transfer of Zakharyan in the summer transfer window.

“This transfer is not frozen until winter, but it is possible. Now we are still working to ensure that Dinamo can get money from Chelsea.”

Chelsea fans would recall the sanctions and uncertainty the club faced last season following the war. Roman Abramovich would eventually lose ownership of the club thereafter.