Chelsea were hoping to add highly rated 19-year-old Armenian midfield Arsen Zakharyan this summer, and were willing to pay his €15m release clause, but — not unexpectedly — ran into some rather “impossible” administrative difficulties as far as actually making that payment to a Russian Premier League team, and thus had to shelve the idea until at least January, SB Nation says.

The youngster has admitted that the postponement has left him a bit disappointed, but he’s hoping that things will get done in the next transfer window instead. In the meantime, he’s using that disappointment to up his game — while also dealing with some gentle teasing and trolling from teammates, such as Fedor Smolov chanting “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea” as he walked by the post-match interview following Dinamo Moscow’s 2-1 win over Ural last night.

“I survived [the failed transfer] normally. I have a contract with Dynamo. You have to play and show yourself. [...] Well, I was a little sad, but already moved on. The guys teased me. They joked in the locker room. Regular jokes, nothing more,” Zakharyan said, according to Sport Express.

“I knew [Chelsea] were interested in me before. [...] Of course, it’s nice that such advances are given to me, that big clubs are watching me. I will try even harder. There was an offer, but it just didn’t work out. You probably know the reasons. How could I refuse?

“We will decide everything related to the matter together with the club. I cannot comment on this. I hope everything will be fine. On to the next window? Maybe.”

The transfer remains the matter of finding a way to actually do this business amid all the restrictions and sanctions.