Transfer Centre

Tiemoue Bakayoko set for Chelsea return?

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 29 April 2020

Tiemoue Bakayoko will reportedly return to Chelsea this summer as Monaco decide against making his loan move permanent following the termination of the Ligue 1 season.

Tiemoue Bakayoko is reportedly set to return to Chelsea this summer after Monaco decided against making his loan move permanent.

The 25-year-old has spent the entire campaign back at the Stade Louis II, but the Ligue 1 season has now been cancelled prematurely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Goal claims that Monaco have told Chelsea that they have no intention of triggering the £38m option to buy clause in his loan deal.

The Blues had hoped that Monaco would have room to negotiate over the fee at the end of the campaign, but the effect of the football shutdown on their finances has ended any chance of that being the case.

Bakayoko made 23 appearances for Monaco during his loan spell but now faces uncertainty over his next club, with Frank Lampard deeming him surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea boss already has Mason Mount, Ross Barkley, N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Billy Gilmour and Ruben Loftus-Cheek as midfield options, while Ethan Ampadu and Conor Gallagher are also currently out on loan.