Chelsea player set for Ligue 1 move after four years of struggles

Malang Sarr is on the brink of a move to Ligue 1 side Lens, as he prepares to sign a two-year contract with the French club. The 25-year-old's impending departure marks the end of a challenging stint at Stamford Bridge, where he struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.

Sarr joined Chelsea on a free transfer in 2020, penning a five-year deal with the Blues. However, he spent most of his time on loan at Monaco and Porto, making just 21 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions. Despite being part of the squad that clinched the Club World Cup, Sarr found himself completely sidelined last season under Mauricio Pochettino, often training with the youth teams.

According to Foot Mercato, Sarr and Lens have reached a full agreement, with the defender expected to undergo a medical within the next 48 hours. The move comes after a failed January transfer to Le Havre, which saw Sarr posting regular training videos on social media in preparation for the new campaign.

Lens views Sarr as a valuable addition to their defence, as they gear up for a season that could include Europa Conference League football. The Frenchman, eager to return to regular action, brings with him previous Ligue 1 experience from his time at Nice and Monaco, where he made 119 and 17 appearances respectively.

Chelsea has been active in the transfer market this summer, welcoming six new players while also looking to trim their squad. Ian Maatsen and Omari Hutchison have already departed for Aston Villa and Ipswich respectively, with Sarr set to follow suit. Although no transfer fee has been mentioned, Chelsea is likely to allow him to leave on a free transfer or for a nominal sum, given his contract expires next summer.

Sarr's time at Chelsea was marked by unfulfilled potential and missed opportunities. Despite showing promise during the 2021-22 season under Thomas Tuchel, his subsequent loan spells failed to yield the desired results. Last season, he did not play a single minute with the first team, leaving many to wonder what went wrong.

However, Sarr's move to Lens offers him a chance to revive his career. The club hopes he can recapture the form he displayed at Nice between 2016 and 2020, where he made 119 appearances.

Although never a first-choice player under Tuchel, Sarr did have some notable performances. He put in a man-of-the-match display on his Premier League debut in a 1-0 win at Brentford, and also started against Manchester City, where Chelsea only lost 1-0. Sarr contributed to wins and clean sheets against Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace as well.

During the 2021-22 season, Sarr made 22 appearances across all competitions. In nine EFL Cup and FA Cup matches that he started, Chelsea won every game. He also played in both Club World Cup encounters, helping Chelsea secure the trophy for the first time.

While Sarr's pending exit may go unnoticed by many, it is worth noting that Chelsea rarely lost matches when he played. His move to Lens represents a fresh start, and he will be looking to make a significant impact at his new club.