CHELSEA flop Tiemoue Bakayoko will return to Stamford Bridge next season – after AC Milan pulled the plug on a permanent deal for the French midfielder.
The £40million player, whose three goals in 43 Blues appearances work out to over £13m each, was offloaded to the Serie A giants on a season-long loan last term.
But having scored just one goal in 42 games in Italy, Bakayoko has now been sent packing back to London.
His agent, Federico Pastorello, confirmed he was returning to the Bridge to pursue Champions League football.
With the West Londoners subject to a transfer ban, he will increase the competition in midfield.
With Eden Hazard moving to Real Madrid, Chelsea are short of options and will likely have to turn to youth to see them through next season.
There were high hopes for Frenchman Bakayoko when he arrived from Monaco as one of former manager Antonio Conte’s first signings.
The Italian persisted with Bakayoko despite him never looking comfortable in a Chelsea shirt.
Incoming boss Maurizio Sarri quickly moved him on to Milan where he endured a season of promise but with little real substance.
The Italians have now decided the midfielder is simply not worth the investment despite the player initially keen to stay at the San Siro.
They were looking for a late spark to seal a Champions League spot, but that did not come from the 24-year-old.
He only scored one goal all season – in the 3-2 home defeat to neighbours Inter Milan in March – and wanted to leave after racist abuse.
AC missed out on the top four which has impacted on their transfer plans with the extra money no longer available from Europe’s premier competition.
Chelsea are now left with a midfielder lacking in confidence who is surely worth a fraction of the huge fee they paid Monaco in 2016.
Bakayoko’s agent Pastorello said: “There are some rather interested clubs, we have received so many proposals, but we give priority to Chelsea.
“There is the Champions League and we are looking for stability, Tiemoue has decided to stay in London.”
