Andreas Christensen admits he thought about leaving Chelsea during last month’s transfer window but changed his mind after being reassured over his future at Stamford Bridge.

The Danish defender was a regular under Antonio Conte last season but has started just two League games under Maurizio Sarri this term.

Standard Sport revealed a number of clubs — including Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus — had made an approach to sign the 22-year-old.

Christensen, who is expected to start on the bench against Manchester United in tonight’s FA Cup fifth-round tie, had been prepared to make a move but Chelsea rejected all the offers.

The board’s decision to snub his suitors has reassured the centre-half, who has three years left on his contract, that he can still thrive at the club.

He said: “I had a lot of doubts but as they made it clear I am needed, it really wasn’t that hard for me to accept.

In Pictures | Malmo vs Chelsea | 14/02/19 8 show all In Pictures | Malmo vs Chelsea | 14/02/19 1/8 AFP/Getty Images 2/8 AFP/Getty Images 3/8 AFP/Getty Images 4/8 AFP/Getty Images 5/8 AFP/Getty Images 6/8 AFP/Getty Images 7/8 8/8 AFP/Getty Images 1/8 AFP/Getty Images 2/8 AFP/Getty Images 3/8 AFP/Getty Images 4/8 AFP/Getty Images 5/8 AFP/Getty Images 6/8 AFP/Getty Images 7/8 8/8 AFP/Getty Images

“I’ve been at the club for many years and I still love being here. It’s solely because of the playing time that the transfer consideration started. There are two clear first choices [at centre-half, David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger] and then there’s me. I just have to take the chance when I get it.

“There was a lot of talk [over a move] but it was quickly made clear the club saw me as someone who would play.

“Of course that’s really nice to hear so I just have to keep proving myself. I can only hope I’ll be selected more often.”

Christensen, who joined Chelsea six years ago, is rated one of the world’s best young defenders and his transfer value is in excess of £40million.

Chelsea, however, cannot afford to lose such an asset, with club captain Gary Cahill not part of Sarri’s plans and set to leave in the summer.

Luiz might depart, too, as talks over an extension to his contract which expires at the end of this campaign have yet to be concluded.

In Pictures | Chelsea managers under Roman Abramovich 14 show all In Pictures | Chelsea managers under Roman Abramovich 1/14 Frank Lampard When: 2019 to present



Trophies: None Getty Images 2/14 Maurizio Sarri When: 2018 to 2019



Trophies: Europa League (2018-19) Action Images via Reuters 3/14 Antonio Conte When: 2016 to 2018



Trophies: Premier League (2016-17), FA Cup (2017-18) Getty Images 4/14 Guus Hiddink When: 2015 to 2016 (interim)



Trophies: None Getty Images 5/14 Jose Mourinho When: 2013 to 2015



Trophies: Premier League (2014-15), League Cup (2014-15) Getty Images 6/14 Rafa Benitez When: 2012 to 2013 (interim)



Trophies: Europa League (20012-13) Getty Images 7/14 Roberto Di Matteo When: 2012



Trophies: Champions League (2011-12), FA Cup (2011-12) Getty Images 8/14 Andre Villas-Boas When: 2011 to 2012



Trophies: None AFP/Getty Images 9/14 Carlo Ancelotti When: 2009 to 2011



Trophies: Premier League (2009-10), FA Cup (2009-10), Community Shield (2009) AFP/Getty Images 10/14 Guus Hiddink When: 2009 (interim)



Trophies: FA Cup (2008-09) Getty Images 11/14 Avram Grant When: 2007 to 2009



Trophies: None Getty Images 12/14 Luiz Felipe Scolari When: 2008 to 2009



Trophies: None AFP/Getty Images 13/14 Jose Mourinho When: 2004 to 2007



Trophies: Premier League (2004-05, 2005-06), FA Cup (2006-07), League Cup (2004-05), 2006-07), Community Shield (2005) AFP/Getty Images 14/14 Claudio Ranieri When: 2004 to 2004



Trophies: None



Was in situ when Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea. Getty Images 1/14 Frank Lampard When: 2019 to present



Trophies: None Getty Images 2/14 Maurizio Sarri When: 2018 to 2019



Trophies: Europa League (2018-19) Action Images via Reuters 3/14 Antonio Conte When: 2016 to 2018



Trophies: Premier League (2016-17), FA Cup (2017-18) Getty Images 4/14 Guus Hiddink When: 2015 to 2016 (interim)



Trophies: None Getty Images 5/14 Jose Mourinho When: 2013 to 2015



Trophies: Premier League (2014-15), League Cup (2014-15) Getty Images 6/14 Rafa Benitez When: 2012 to 2013 (interim)



Trophies: Europa League (20012-13) Getty Images 7/14 Roberto Di Matteo When: 2012



Trophies: Champions League (2011-12), FA Cup (2011-12) Getty Images 8/14 Andre Villas-Boas When: 2011 to 2012



Trophies: None AFP/Getty Images 9/14 Carlo Ancelotti When: 2009 to 2011



Trophies: Premier League (2009-10), FA Cup (2009-10), Community Shield (2009) AFP/Getty Images 10/14 Guus Hiddink When: 2009 (interim)



Trophies: FA Cup (2008-09) Getty Images 11/14 Avram Grant When: 2007 to 2009



Trophies: None Getty Images 12/14 Luiz Felipe Scolari When: 2008 to 2009



Trophies: None AFP/Getty Images 13/14 Jose Mourinho When: 2004 to 2007



Trophies: Premier League (2004-05, 2005-06), FA Cup (2006-07), League Cup (2004-05), 2006-07), Community Shield (2005) AFP/Getty Images 14/14 Claudio Ranieri When: 2004 to 2004



Trophies: None



Was in situ when Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea. Getty Images

Christensen, crucially, also counts as a home-grown player and the club are finding it hard to meet the quota set in the Premier League and European competition.

Meanwhile, striker Olivier Giroud has urged his team-mates to keep their challenge on four fronts alive by beating United tonight.

The Blues are still in the Europa League, face Manchester City in the EFL Cup Final on Sunday and sit just one point off the top four in the table.

Giroud said: “The next job is Manchester United in the FA Cup. A big game. We have a few big games to come.

“We want to qualify in every single competition. We need momentum and to keep going that way.”