Chelsea are reportedly set to see Tiemoue Bakayoko return to the club even though they hoped to recoup the transfer fee paid for him from his former employers, AS Monaco
According to the latest reports, French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is set to return to Stamford Bridge this summer as Ligue 1 side Monaco have opted not to trigger their option to purchase the midfielder.
On Tuesday, an announcement confirmed that the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season has been cancelled due to the coronavirus and PSG will be awarded the French top-flight title. It also suggested that Bakayoko will return to his parent club following his loan move to Monaco.
Although Chelsea sent Bakayoko out on loan to his former side in France, the west London side inserted a €42.5 million (£38m/$46m) option to buy clause in the agreement last summer, but Monaco have informed the Frank Lampard’s side that they will not pay anywhere near their asking price for the defensive midfielder.
Chelsea initially hoped when the deal was agreed that there would be significant room for negotiation at the Stade Louis II for Bakayoko. However, with football now called off in France due to the coronavirus teams in Ligue 1 will be affected by a lack of funds from broadcasting rights as well as sponsorship deals, therefore, no such talks will take place over a permanent switch.
Chelsea were keen to recoup the £40m ($50m) fee they paid for Bakayoko back in the summer of 2017 and they will likely look to move him on again once the transfer window opens as Lampard now has a number of midfield options to pick out from his squad.
Following the recent emergence of young Billy Gilmour and Ruben Loftus-Cheek yet to return from his injury lay off, Lampard can also count on N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Ross Barkley, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic to load up his midfield. Bakayoko’s services at Chelsea, therefore, will be a surplus.
