Chelsea's search for a creative midfielder has floundered again, as Palermo midfielder Javier Pastore has put pen to paper on a five-year deal with Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain.
Pastore played 35 matches for Palermo last season, scoring 11 goals.
Bankrolled by Qatar Investment Authority, PSG offered £37m to the Italian club.
Chelsea are struggling to add the final piece of their squad's jigsaw - a creative midfielder as top choice Luka Modric seems glued to White Hart Lane.
Pastore, was Chelsea's second choice but his loss could force Chelsea to up their reported £30m to £35m on Monday.
But Spurs are digging their heels in even further - sensing that they could even get as much as £38m for the Croatian midfielder.
Chelsea will turn their attention to Arsenal Samir Nasri and even attempt to scupper the move to Manchester United for Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder.