Serie A giants AC Milan have been linked with a move for Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile during the upcoming January transfer window.
It is believed that the Rossoneri are targeting a centre-back in the winter window to partner England international Fikayo Tomori in the centre of their defence due to injuries to Pierre Kalulu, Simon Kjaer and Marco Pellegrino.
Any move for Badiashile is expected to be a loan deal until the end of the 2023/24 campaign as the Frenchman seeks regular playing time ahead of potentially being selected for France at UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany next summer.
The 22-year-old only joined Chelsea in January 2023 for a fee in the region of £32.7 million from Monaco but has found playing time limited at Stamford Bridge due to the churn in managers at the club, as well as injuries hitting him since his arrival.
In the ten and a half months since he became a Blues player, Badiashile has managed just 12 appearances across all competitions and is yet to play in the Premier League at all so far this season.
Badiashile began his youth career with his hometown club Limogoes at the age of six before joining Malesherbes and then eventually Monaco in 2016.
After 12 appearances for Monaco’s second-team, he made his first-team debut aged 17 and went on to make 135 appearances for the Monagasque before turning 21.
Internationally, he received two France caps in 2022 and was a regular throughout their youth team setups at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 level. He made 50 appearances for the French youth sides between 2016 and 2023.
Badiashile is one of a number of left-sides centre-backs reportedly being targeted by the Italian club. AFC Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly, who has also been linked with both Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur, has been linked as well as Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior, who has struggled to get minutes since moving from Spezia in January.
