Tiemoue Bakayoko has not played for Chelsea since completing 90 minutes in the Blues' FA Cup win over Manchester United in 2018 but still faces the possibility of returning to Cobham at the end of the season. The 28-year-old has since spent four terms out on loan at AC Milan, Monaco and Napoli and is more than a year into his second stint with the current Serie A champions.
The midfielder is yet to play a game for Milan in 2022/23 despite regularly being in Stefan Pioli's matchday squad and struggled to make an impression in 15 appearances last season. Pioli noted of Bakayoko at the beginning of 2022 that he is "convinced that he is a very strong player, he was unlucky in some situations, but he had some good performances. He can do better and he will give good support to the team." But there has been little sign he believes as much.
There is a suggestion that if Bakayoko hits a certain number of appearances this term that the Rossoneri will be compelled to make his deal permanent.
