Chelsea are reportedly exploring a transfer move for Marseille youngster Darryl Bakola, with the attacking midfielder stalling over a contract renewal.
The Blues’ extraordinary spending under Todd Boehly continued as they splashed out in the region of £285million on new recruits over the course of a hectic summer transfer window.
Strengthening Enzo Maresca’s attack was placed at the top of Chelsea’s list of priorities and Stamford Bridge bosses moved to address this by signing Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho.
But once the summer deadline came and went, attentions quickly turned to the January transfer market as an opportunity to further bolster Maresca’s squad.
Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo and Manchester United outcast Kobbie Mainoo are both firmly on Chelsea’s radar as players who could come in and instantly improve Maresca’s starting XI.
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However, Chelsea’s transfer model, centred around buying young, high-potential players in bulk, has led them to countless other top talents across European football in recent weeks.
According to French publication Foot Mercato, 18-year-old Marseille star Bakola is the latest youngster to find himself in Chelsea’s crosshairs as the Premier League giants keep one eye on the future.
The report suggests Chelsea are ‘making moves behind the scenes’ for Bakola and the Club World Cup winners are ‘already considering’ the prospect of signing the teenager before sending him on loan to Strasbourg.
Arsenal, Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart are also said to be ‘very interested’ in Bakola.
Bakola’s current contract with Marseille is due to expire in June 2027 and a ‘concrete contract extension offer’ is on the table for the France Under-20 international.
But Bakola is currently hesitating over the proposal from Marseille and the Ligue 1 outfit have made it their ‘top priority’ to find a resolution as 2025 draws to a close.
Marseille have been scarred numerous times in the past by young talents leaving on free transfers and are desperate not to relive that same story with Bakola.
If Bakola refuses to commit his future soon, though, a January transfer ‘isn’t out of the question’.
Perhaps the most notable of Bakola’s eight appearances this season came last month when he shone in Marseille’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the Champions League.
‘I asked him to play as if he were at the park with his friends,’ Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi said of Bakola’s performance against Newcastle.
‘I really liked what I saw, even in the first half when he missed a few passes.
‘His personality and courage impressed me. Sometimes you have to take risks. It was a risk to play him tonight.’
On Bakola’s eye-catching Champions League debut, De Zerbi added: ‘The Velodrome is a generous stadium for academy youngsters.
‘The supporters helped him, even when he made mistakes.’
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