Last summer, Chelsea’s Tiemoue Bakayoko returned to AC Milan on a two-year loan deal with an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met.
The midfielder only managed over 600 minutes of action across 18 matches in all competitions last season.
It is unlikely the situation is going to improve at the San Siro next term and the Chelsea owned player could be looking for a new solution in the current window.
According to Foot Mercato, Marseille made progress to sign the 27-year-old. Milan would be open to letting him leave as they are thinking to cut short his loan deal. A return to the west London club is ruled out as he is not included in Thomas Tuchel’s plans at Chelsea.
It’s said an ‘agreement has been reached’ between the Ligue 1 side and the Frenchman for a four-year deal. Marseille president Pablo Longoria wants him and Jorge Sampaoli had given the green light for the operation.
Sampoli is no longer in charge at the club and Igor Tudor has been appointed as the new manager at Marseille.
A few days ago, a meeting took place between the Croatian, Longaria, Marseille sporting director David Friio and Bakayoko’s agent to try to unblock the situation. According to the report, Tudor is ‘blocking his arrival’ at the moment. The operation can be unlocked if the French club’s leaders manage to convince their manager.
If Milan were to terminate his loan deal, Bakayoko will have to return to Chelsea. Should that happen, then Marseille or any other club interested to sign the Frenchman in the summer window must negotiate with the Blues.