LONDON – Chelsea have started selling as they prepare to splash out on Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alex Sandro, but are putting buy-back clauses into the deals for their departing young stars.
Bertrand Traore completed a switch to Lyon worth up to £16 million on Monday, with Chelsea due 15 percent of any profit the French club make on the fee should they sell him down the line.
Chelsea have also inserted a buy-back option, while similar clauses will be discussed in Bournemouth’s £20m move for defender Nathan Ake.
The absence of a buy-back clause when Romelu Lukaku left came back to haunt Chelsea who want to re-sign the striker.
Everton say Lukaku will now cost Chelsea a world-record £100m fee.
Monaco midfielder Bakayoko is set to become Chelsea’s first signing of the summer at about £35m. He will replace Nemanja Matic, who is moving closer to a £40m switch to Manchester United.