Chelsea and Arsenal boosted as top target clears path for January transfer | Football

Darryl Bakola has reportedly rejected a final contract offer from Marseille, clearing the path for a possible move to the Premier League this January.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder broke out of Marseille’s youth ranks last January and has gone on to make 11 appearances in all competitions for the club over the last 12 months.

Considered one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Marseille’s academy in recent memory, Bakola has been widely tipped for a big future by those in the know in French football.

However, there has been growing uncertainty over Bakola’s contract situation with the Ligue 1 outfit and a number of top clubs have been keeping close tabs on developments, ready to pounce.

Chelsea are said to be ‘making moves behind the scenes’ for Bakola and are ‘already considering’ the prospect of signing the teenager before sending him on loan to Strasbourg.

According to Marseille-based newspaper La Provence, Bakola is also on the radar of Arsenal, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as teams in the Saudi Pro League.

It’s claimed Bakola and fellow academy product Robinio Vaz have both rejected Marseille’s salary offers worth in the region of €60,000-a-month (£52,000-a-month) and talks over renewals have completely broken down.

Bakola’s camp are even said to have been ‘angered’ by Marseille’s latest proposal – but club chiefs Pablo Longoria and Medhi Benatia are unwilling to increase their offers for the two youngsters.

The report adds that Bakola and Vaz could now leave Marseille as early as this winter, despite being under contract until 2027 and 2028 respectively.

The sale of one or both of Bakola and Vaz before the January transfer deadline would generate some much-needed funds for Marseille, who posted a significant loss for the 2024/2025 financial year.

‘We need to maintain our competitiveness and reduce the team’s cost,’ Marseille president Longoria recently told reporters.

Bakola’s absence from Marseille’s last three matches has only fuelled rumours that the France Under-20 international could be set for the exit door at the Stade Velodrome.

Asked why both Bakola and Vaz had been missing following his side’s recent defeat to Nantes, Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi said: ‘If Bakola and Vaz aren’t playing then it’s because I don’t think they’re fit enough.

‘It has nothing to do with contracts or situations.

‘I know there have been offers to renew their contracts, but if I think they’re capable of playing, they’ll play.

‘But they have to be hungry, otherwise they won’t play.’

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