Conte asked specifically for Jonathan Biabiany in January

Jonathan Biabiany was a name that cropped up to much amusement and bemusement in the final days of the winter transfer window as Chelsea looked to add a bit of squad depth heading into the second-half of the season. The Blues were looking to do a short-term loan for the utility winger from Inter Milan, but he apparently wanted something more (China, possibly) and according to rumors back then, rejected the move to the Premier League.

His agent however has revealed to Calcio Mercato that the main reason the move fell through was simply a lack of time.

“It’s true that West Ham [were] interested, it is also true that Chelsea wanted him. It was a specific request of Antonio Conte, who [had] also spoken to him to try to convince him, but it was too late to go to the Premier League. The request came late Sunday night, Tuesday night, the market closed. There was no time. Palermo [had] requested him, but it was impossible from an economic point of view. China instead? No, it [was] an idea, which then did not materialize.”

-David Bega; source: Calcio Mercato via Sempre Inter

Had Chelsea signed Biabiany, presumably either Charly Musonda or Kenedy would’ve headed out on loan. Instead they stayed. Meanwhile, Biabiany has continued his hilarious streak of being regularly named to Inter’s matchday squads only to never play a single Serie A minute. He’s now up to 19 matches completed on the bench. The Chinese transfer window is open for a few more days, so maybe he’ll still get his move.

Either way, hopefully this is the last time we have to talk about Jonathan Biabiany.