Former Spartak Moscow star Denis Boyarintsev admits he was hoping Arsen Zakharyan would get his move to Chelsea this week.
The Blues were willing to meet the €15m buyout clause in the winger's Dynamo Moscow contract, but ran out of time to finalise the deal.
Chelsea and Dynamo have agreed to return to negotiations in January.
Boyarintsev told Sport-Express: "I would like the fact of Zakharyan's transfer to Chelsea to come true.
"A Russian player in such a club is an eminent moment. Yuri Zhirkov used to play there. It would be nice that our players move to leading clubs.
"He didn't get there, unfortunately, but I think he will."