Chelsea are in talks with AC Milan over cancelling Tiemoue Bakayoko’s loan

Chelsea are in talks with AC Milan to cancel the loan of Tiemoue Bakayoko.

The Stamford Bridge club are willing to let the 28-year-old, who cost the Monaco club £35m in 2017, walk away for free.

Bakayoko joined Milan on a two-year loan in the summer of 2021, but has struggled to play under Stefano Pioli.

Chelsea are in talks with AC Milan to cancel Tiemoue Bakayoko’s loan at the club.

He appeared just 18 times in all competitions last season and hasn’t played a minute during the current campaign.

The Rossoneri are unwilling to play the 28-year-old as there is a clause in his loan that means they would have to make the deal permanent if he plays at least 45 minutes in 15 games this season.

He is under contract until 2024 with Graham Potter’s side but the Blues are prepared to release him, in a similar move to what they did with transfer partner Ross Barkley earlier this season before the midfielder joined Nice.

Bakayoko has had a torrid time at Chelsea and they are willing to let him go for free

The 28-year-old has had several loan spells away from the club, including with Napoli (above)

Bakayoko, who has been a solo international for France, made 43 appearances for Chelsea during the 2017-18 season.

His last game for the club was in that campaign, as he played the full 90 minutes of the FA Cup final victory over Manchester United in May 2018.

Since then, the midfielder has endured successive loan spells at AC Milan, Monaco and Napoli between 2018 and 2021, before returning to the San Siro in the summer of 2021.

Pioli’s side sit third in Serie A with 37 points from 17 games and the Italian has several midfielders at his disposal such as Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer.

They have also reached the round of 16 of the Champions League and face Tottenham in the round of 16.