Tiemoue Bakayoko on verge of Chelsea exit as AC Milan seek loan deal with cut-price option to buy

Chelsea are spending deadline day trying to balance the books following the £71.6m signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga, with Tiemoue Bakayoko set to be the highest profile departure.

Bakayoko is on the verge of agreeing a season-long loan to AC Milan with the Serie A club hoping to include an option to buy him on a permanent basis next year for a cut-price £31.5m.

The France international failed to make an impact in the Premier League last term after joining the Blues from Monaco for £40m.

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He had already slipped down the pecking order under new coach Mauricio Sarri during pre-season and faces even less game-time with Kovacic joining on loan from Real Madrid.

Bakayoko was prepared to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge but the loan fee and potential option to buy next year would allow Chelsea to get most, if not all, of their money back.

Despite a number of clubs being linked with a loan bid for midfielder Danny Drinkwater, including West Ham, Standard Sport understands no concrete offer had been received as of this morning.

The England international started just 12 games after joining from Leicester for £35m last summer but it is believed has held talks with Maurizio Sarri about his future. Drinkwater is aware he faces won't start the campaign as a first-team regular but is ready to prove his worth as it progresses.

Meanwhile, defender Kurt Zouma is still subject of a loan bid from Everton and there have been reports in France linking him with Manchester United.

Sarri has a decision to make over what to do with strikers Michy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham too.

Standard Sport revealed last week that Batshuayi is set to get a lot more game time under the former Napoli coach but the Belgium international still wants reassurances having barely featured under Antonio Conte and is aware of interest from Valencia.

England international Abraham will look for a loan switch too if he is unlikely to play and would prefer to stay in the Premier League rather than move abroad.