AC Milan are preparing their first bid for Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, according to the Guardian’s Fabrizio Romano.

The reliable journalist took to Twitter last night to reveal that the Rossoneri will offer a €3m (£2.7m) loan fee for the Frenchman, with an option to buy for €35m (£31.6m) at the end of the season.

AC Milan have started talks with Chelsea to sign Tiemoué Bakayoko. €3M loan + €35M buy option ready to be offered as first bid. The player wants to come back. ?⚫️ @DiMarzio @SkySport #CFC #Milan #transfers

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 11, 2020

The Blues will likely be very sceptical about this offer if it arrives. They agreed on a similar deal with the Serie A club two years ago only for them to renege on signing him on a permanent basis. Bakayoko is not part of manager Frank Lampard’s first-team plans so they would like to get his wages off the payroll but they would almost certainly want to guarantee his departure next summer.

Whether Milan would agree to an obligation to buy, it remains to be seen, but the player is said to be very keen on a return to the San Siro.