Chelsea open door to midfielder Bakayoko exit as Monaco plot bid (RMC)

Monaco are still in negotiations with Chelsea over a potential loan move for Tiemoue Bakayoko, according to reports in France.

Bakayoko, who joined the Blues in a £40million move from the Ligue 1 club two years ago, is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

The 25-year-old is yet to feature under Frank Lampard this season after spending last season on loan AC Milan and the Premier League club are thought to want to get him off the books.

And RMC (via Get French Football News ) report that Monaco are still negotiating a move for Frenchman as they look to add a central midfielder before the transfer window closes on September 2.

According to the French outlet, the Ligue 1 side are exploring the possibility of signing former star Bakayoko on a season-long loan while also pursuing a move for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.

Although the club are thought to favour a move for Kessie and are willing to match Milan's £22.7m asking price, it is believed the 22-year-old's wage demands could prove too high.

That could cause the Principality club to push through with a loan move for Bakayoko, despite seeing earlier efforts to complete a deal frustrated.

It had previously been claimed that Chelsea transfer chief Marina Granovskaia had blocked a transfer because she did not believe Leonardo Jardim's side to be big enough to showcase the player's value.

The Premier League club were reportedly holding out for an offer from a team playing European football in the hopes that it would allow them to sell the player for his maximum value next summer.

However, RMC indicate that Chelsea are now open to allowing Bakayoko to rejoin Monaco after receiving limited interest for the midfielder.

Bakayoko played 63 Ligue 1 games for Monaco between 2014 and 2017 after his £7million move from Rennes, culminating in his big-money switch to the Premier League.

But he struggled to make an impact after penning a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge, and while he made 31 Serie A appearances at AC Milan last season, he was not able to secure a return to the San Siro.