How Chelsea are BLOCKING Bakayoko's exit

Cameron Smith

• 31 Jan 2023 19:35 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea are currently stopping the departure of transfer flop Tiemoue Bakayoko, who is on the verge of returning to his homeland and joining Olympique Lyonnais on a permanent deal.

Earlier this month, reports suggested that Chelsea and AC Milan, the club Bakayoko is currently on loan at, were in discussions over cutting the deal short in order for the Frenchman to leave Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal.

That still remains the case, according to reports, but Chelsea aren't willing to let the 28-year-old leave for absolutely nothing.

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The former AS Monaco star cost the West London side a whopping €40 million back in 2017, but he's featured just 43 times for the club and has been out on loan for the past four-and-a-half campaigns; his Blues career effectively ended after a dismal display at Vicarage Road away to Watford in February 2018.

But, Chelsea don't want to simply let him leave for no monetary value.

READ: Chelsea to send January signing Fofana out on loan

Chelsea's demands

According to French outlet L'Equipe, Lyon are heavily interested in signing Bakayoko and ending his disastrous spell at Milan, for whom he's yet to play a single minute for this term.

However, the report details that Chelsea are expecting to receive a compensation fee from Milan for terminating his loan, something the Rossoneri have reportedly declined to pay. This has halted Bakayoko's prospective move to Lyon.

Milan still hold an option to buy Bakayoko once his loan deal at San Siro expires this summer, but they have no intention of activating this clause, according to reports.

It's believed that Lyon manager Laurent Blanc was the one who requested Bakayoko, and talks between the respective parties have begun, with a transfer still on the cards. However, Chelsea's wish to be paid by Milan could end up stopping a deal from happening.

Bakayoko's contract at Stamford Bridge isn't set to expire until June 2024. He will return to the club this summer once his loan move to Milan ends, unless he finds a permanent home.