Having spent last season on loan at Dortmund, the Anglo-Nigerian was unlikely to play a major role in Chelsea’s long-term plans.
However, with the club focused on maintaining financial stability, they were determined not to let him leave for a bargain.
Kehl didn’t hold back when detailing the frustrations of negotiating with clubs across the Channel.
“Transfers in the Bundesliga are generally a bit easier,” he said.
“We’ve now dealt with clubs that aren’t necessarily dependent on money. This changes the negotiating position dramatically. And I have to say: the English are often pain-free.
“They sometimes deliberately enter the final phase of the transfer window because they know that, given their financial resources, they can rest assured that a potential domino effect will follow. So, we had to be patient in order to be able to negotiate.”