Chelsea are in talks with AC Milan over the termination of Tiemoue Bakayoko’s loan

Chelsea are in talks with AC Milan to terminate Tiemoue Bakayoko’s loan deal.

Stamford Bridge Club are ready to let the 28-year-old go for free – who cost the club £35m from Monaco in 2017.

Bakayoko signed a two-year loan deal for Milan in the summer of 2021 but he has struggled for playing time under Stefano Pioli.

Chelsea are in talks with AC Milan about terminating Tiemoue Bakayoko’s loan deal with the club

He made just 18 appearances in all competitions last season and has barely played a minute this season.

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

He is signed with Graham Potter’s side until 2024 but the Blues are ready to release him, much like they did with his transfer flop Ross Barkley earlier this season, before the midfielder joined Nice.

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

The 28-year-old has been loaned out by the club several times, including at Napoli (above).

Bakayoko, who has won a single cap for France, made 43 appearances for Chelsea in the 2017/18 season.

His last game for the club came this season when he played the full 90 minutes of the FA Cup Final win over Manchester United in May 2018.

Since then, the midfielder has been on consecutive loans at AC Milan, Monaco and Napoli between 2018 and 2021 before returning to San Siro in the summer of 2021.

Pioli’s side sit third in Serie A with 37 points from 17 games and the Italian boasts several central midfielders like Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer.

They also reached the knockout stages of the Champions League and meet Tottenham in the round of 16.