Report: Chelsea defender closing in on Ligue 1 move

Transfer News: Chelsea centre-back Malang Sarr completes part AS Monaco medical

According to popular Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Chelsea centre-back Malang Sarr has completed the first part of his medical ahead of a likely move to Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco with the second part scheduled to happen later today.

Sarr has been on the fringes of Chelsea throughout last season. He never had a consistent run in the team with Thomas Tuchel choosing to use him only in situations where he runs out of options or has to give the regular starters a well-deserved rest.

The talented young French centre-back was signed from Nice in 2020 and immediately loaned out to Porto to continue his development. He returned to Stamford Bridge upon completing his loan spell with the Portuguese giants and Tuchel decided to keep him last season.

Now, he is set to be loaned out yet again back to his native country to Monaco in search of regular game time. It could be a loan with an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met and hence, it is not clear if Chelsea envision a long-term future for Sarr.

At 23, Sarr is at the age of his career where he can develop if and only if he has regular game time. Despite the Blues’ woes in defence this campaign, it is unlikely that the Frenchman will get regular game time and it makes sense that he is loaned out now.

Sarr played 21 times for the Blues last season failing to score or assist a single goal. Tuchel chose to deploy the French youngster at centre-back and even occasionally at left wing-back due to the injury crisis that the Blues had last season, especially in defence.

Whilst his performances in a Blues shirt has been far from note-worthy, they have definitely not been abysmal and Sarr has shown he has what it takes to be the perfect rotation player; someone who can come in and fill in adequately for anyone who is missing.

A return to a league that he knows well is likely to do the world of good for Sarr. He is likely to get a starring role at Monaco this season and if he can develop his game and show what he is capable of, he still has enough time to make it to a top club yet again.

More Chelsea News:

• Wilfried Zaha is keen on making a shock move to Chelsea this summer
• Chelsea to make a third bid for Leicester City star Wesley Fofana
• Transfer News: Chelsea are willing to cover Frenkie de Jong’s salary debt to sign him

Malang Sarr at Chelsea has been a very calm story with not many ups or downs. It remains to be seen if he is a part of the future with the Blues, but right now he is set to be on his way to Monaco.