Chelsea close in on exit agreement for Malang Sarr, as value of imminent departure revealed ahead of medical

Malang Sarr is set to sign for Monaco on loan from Chelsea – and he may have already played his last game for his parent club, according to reports.

Sarr was a free signing for Chelsea back in the summer of 2020. The youngster spent time on loan with Porto before making 21 appearances back with the Blues last season. Of those, only eight came in the Premier League.

At the age of 23, Sarr is at a stage of his career where he needs to begin progressing. Now, it looks as if that will be away from Chelsea.

According to The Athletic reporter David Ornstein, there is now a verbal agreement in place for Sarr to spend the 2022-23 season on loan with Monaco. It will represent a return to Ligue 1 for the former Nice youngster.

And he could end up staying there permanently, since there would be a conditional obligation to buy him after the loan. Upon the meeting of certain conditions, such as his appearance tally, Monaco will have to pay Chelsea €15million (£12.6million).

In turn, Sarr would sign a five-year contract with Monaco to become their player permanently.

Although there are some things to resolve with the player, whose salary with Chelsea is not insignificant, Sarr is currently in Monaco. The report reveals he will undergo a medical within the next 48 hours.

At Monaco, Sarr should get much more gametime than he would have managed at Chelsea. The Blues have brought in players like Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella this summer, while they are also targeting Wesley Fofana.

Hence, even after the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, Chelsea do not have much defined space for Sarr.

Moving to Monaco – and back to a league he is familiar with – could be beneficial. There could yet be Champions League football on offer there, depending on the outcome of a qualifier against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday. It is all square after the first leg, with the winners due to reach the play-off round.

Sarr’s switch will not go through in time for him to feature, one would imagine. But documents are being prepared for him to become a Monaco player for the 2022-23 season and beyond.

Malang Sarr sale good business by Chelsea

It will be a shame for Sarr if he never gets to make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge.

But the club’s work in the transfer market has to be applauded. To pick up a young player for free and be able to sell him on for an eight-figure sum, without having used him too much, is good business.

And they will be placing him in an environment where he should be comfortable. Hence, his best interests are protected as well.

All in all, it seems a sensible move. Although Chelsea will perhaps hope Sarr doesn’t do so well that they regret negotiating his exit in such a manner.

His contract, incidentally, has three years remaining on it.

READ MORE: Chelsea to incur heavy loss with Werner return to Leipzig imminent; final fee on second major exit emerges