A report from Calcio Mercato indicates that AC Milan loan signing from 2018-19 Tiemoue Bakayoko is eager for a return to the San Siro. The Chelsea owned midfielder was reportedly very close to a return in the January transfer window but this did not materialise because the sale of Franck Kessie did not go through. Bakayoko is seen to be a direct replacement for Kessie in the midfielder to play alongside Ismael Bennacer. The French international is currently playing in Ligue 1 for AS Monaco but is unlikely to be purchased outright by the outfit come the summer.

@cmdotcom : Tiemoué Bakayoko is looking forward to a return to AC Milan this summer after almost returning to Milan in the January transfer window. Milan managers Paolo Maldini and Zvonimir Boban held talks with Chelsea and Monaco during the winter transfers. pic.twitter.com/1XPXtm6VVS — TeamMilanAC (@TeamMilanAC) March 26, 2020

Bakayoko was a favourite of Gennaro Gattuso but was not redeemed after his loan stint at Milan due to the departure of the manager as well as his lofty 35 million price tag. Carlo Pellegatti via MilanNews.it noted that Bakayoko would be the primary target but outlined two other similar profiles here.

“Undoubtedly the ultimate goal of AC Milan’s managers was to sell Kessie and take Bakayoko, alongside Bennacer. Hypothesis, in the case of transfer of the Ivorian. Now, however, rumors are beginning to intensify, especially in France, who are linking Milan with Imran Louza, Nantes player and a solution that could be interesting for the Rossoneri in age and talent.

“In Nantes, Louza was the protagonist of a good season. He’s shining just like a regsita, he’s a very good-footed player. The cost is around 8-10 million euros.

“Attention, then, to a player who could also be worth something more on paper, but who after his birth in Strasbourg and a good season in Monchengladbach has not found continuity at Bayern Munich: Michael Cuisance. He costs between 12-15, therefore figures which, added to the contained salary, fall within the philosophy of the Elliott fund.”