Chelsea and AS Monaco have reached an agreement for Malang Sarr’s loan move to the Ligue 1 side, according to reports in France.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge after seeing game time limited last season.
Despite being trusted by Thomas Tuchel as a back-up left-sided defender, Sarr failed to establish himself in the first team.
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With Antonio Rudiger’s departure, the defender would have been optimistic of an increased amount of game time next season.
However, with the arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly on the left, and with Marc Cucurella looking increasingly like he will become a Chelsea player this summer, Sarr would most likely have seen his game time limited once more.
Furthermore, the Blues are being heavily linked with a move for Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana as Tuchel wishes to strengthen his backline this summer, granting Sarr the opportunity to depart.
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It was reported earlier that Sarr was closing in on a return to Ligue 1, after previously playing for OGC Nice in France, and that Monaco were hoping to seal an initial loan move for the Frenchman.
The details of the transfer arrangement have now been revealed as Chelsea and Monaco have agreed terms to see Sarr make the switch back to France.
As revealed by French outlet L’Equipe, Chelsea and Monaco have agreed on an initial €750,000 loan fee for Sarr.
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An option to buy has also been agreed upon, with Monaco having the opportunity to make the loan move permanent for €12 million.
This would see Chelsea make profit on the defender, having brought him in on a free transfer when his contract at Nice expired.
Sarr spent the 2020/21 season on loan at FC Porto and it was thought that he would leave on loan once more, but after a move to the Bundesliga collapsed, Sarr remained at Chelsea.
Tuchel blocked an exit in January, needing Sarr to stay as back-up after breaking into the team for a couple of matches due to fatigue and injuries as Chelsea won the Club World Cup in February.
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It is thought that his loan move will become official once Cucurella joins Chelsea, being able to fill in on the left of a back three if required once Sarr departs.
It remains to be seen as to whether Chelsea will bring in additional reinforcements in defence as they look to challenge at the top of the Premier League once more.
Fofana looks the most likely to arrive, despite Leicester City's high valuation of the defender.
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RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol has also been linked, but a move for the Croatian appears difficult this summer.
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Malang Sarr, AS Monaco, Football, Transfers
Nick Emms