Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile is reportedly attracting interest from Marseille ahead of the summer transfer window.
On Wednesday night, the centre-back is expected to be named in the Blues XI for the Conference League final against Real Betis.
However, while the France international has featured on 10 occasions in that competition, he accumulated just 333 minutes of Premier League football during 2024-25.
As such, it has become clear that the 24-year-old could struggle to move up the pecking order under Enzo Maresca in the long term, theoretically creating a scenario where Chelsea may consider offers once the market reopens in June.
According to L'Equipe, Badiashile is one of three players who are on a shortlist compiled by Marseille.
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Badiashile emerges as Marseille option
The report alleges that Badiashile is an option for a switch to the Stade Velodrome along with Aymeric Laporte and Facundo Medina.
Having spent the last two seasons in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, Laporte is seemingly on the verge of a return to Europe and is not short of admirers.
Laporte lost his place in the squad for the final five league games of the season and Al-Nassr will realistically take the opportunity to cash in on his signature.
Meanwhile, Medina has starred for Lens during the 2024-25 campaign, albeit with his club missing out on qualification for a European competition.
As such, after five years with the club, the Argentina international could plausibly look for a new challenge, even with three years remaining on his contract.
All three of Marseille's options are left-sided central defenders, an area of the backline that Roberto De Zerbi is seemingly eager to strengthen ahead of the club's return to the Champions League.
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What would Chelsea demand for Badiashile?
With Badiashile still having five years left on his contract, it is possible that Chelsea may be open to a loan agreement if they receive a substantial fee and his wages are covered.
After Chelsea spent £34m on his services when signing him from Monaco in January 2023, they will want to recoup as much as that as possible, but Badiashile has made just 52 appearances during that time.
Therefore, a temporary switch elsewhere may be their best hope of maintaining or enhancing his value. Another factor is Badiashile failing to play more than 24 times in a league campaign since since the start of 2021-22.
Darren Plant
