According to L’Equipe, as cited by Sport Witness, Chelsea may be open about letting Tiemoue Bakayoko return to AS Monaco this summer. The Frenchman has been linked with a loan move, with Leonardo Jardim keen on bringing him back to Ligue 1 this season. His proposed return to Monaco was reportedly blocked by Chelsea earlier this week. But, they have now softened their stance, and a return to the French club could be on the horizon.
Bakayoko’s miserable spell at Chelsea
Bakayoko initially joined Chelsea back in 2017, for a fee of €40 million. He was coming on the back of an exceptional season for AS Monaco, notably helping them win the Ligue 1 title. But, the midfielder struggled to make any significant impact in the Premier League.
He featured in 29 matches during his debut campaign in England. However, the Frenchman struggled to provide any security to the backline, often looking out of place when dealing with opposition. Put simply; he failed to cope with the fast-paced nature of the English top flight.
As a result, the 25-year-old was loaned out to AC Milan last summer. He enjoyed an impressive spell in the Serie A, making 31 league appearances, though the Rossoneri narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification. But even then, it seems like he is surplus to the requirements for newly appointed Chelsea boss Frank Lampard this season.
Should Chelsea keep hold of Bakayoko?
Chelsea’s ongoing transfer ban has restricted them from signing any players till next summer. As a result, they are now severely lacking depth in almost every department. The defensive midfield slot, in particular, is lacking reliable options aside from Jorginho, should Bakayoko leave the club this summer.
Although N’Golo Kante can also feature as a number six, Lampard has predominantly used the Frenchman in a slightly advanced role, with Jorginho sitting behind. Bakayoko, therefore, could provide the much-needed depth in the holding midfield role, especially if either Kante or Jorginho gets injured during the campaign.
Will a move to Monaco restore Bakayoko’s value?
While retaining the services of Bakayoko makes sense for Chelsea, the Blues are primarily hoping to recoup the €40 million they spent on the Frenchman two seasons ago. That means it’s almost essential for the 25-year-old performs this season, regardless of where he plays.
A return to Monaco, in that regard, should be a logical decision. The Ligue 1 giants don’t actually have any out and out defensive midfielder at the moment and could use the services of someone like Bakayoko. The ex-Rennes youth player has worked with Jardim in the past and shouldn’t take long settling in and potentially become one of Monaco’s key players this season.
