Le Havre frustrated by Chelsea blocking Malang Sarr departure

According to Foot Mercato, Chelsea blocked Malang Sarr’s (25) contract termination preventing the player from finalising a late deal to join Le Havre AC.

The centre-back was sent on loan last season with AS Monaco from the London club but Sarr struggled with form and recurring injuries, leading to Les Rouges et Blancs deciding against exercising their option to purchase the defender.

Sarr returned back to his parent club where he was met with a new manager but a familiar situation. The summer managerial appointment, Mauricio Pochettino had no plans for the centre-back and the club failed to find a deal to send the player out.

Yet to feature for Chelsea under their new manager, Sarr was willing to lose a considerable amount of money to facilitate a move back to France, as Le Havre could not come close to matching his current wages. However, despite authorising the player to travel and complete a medical, Chelsea are thought to have had a change of heart.

Foot Mercato report that Chelsea and Sarr came to an agreement for the termination of his contract before the London side then came back with a different offer. Each time, Sarr was said to have agreed to the demands and reduced any financial gain he might make.

However, Chelsea did not send the documents needed to finalise the deal, meaning that as the deadline day came to its end Sarr remained in Le Havre but was unable to leave a club that would not play him. Le Havre have been left frustrated by the English side’s explanation that they did not have the necessary means to complete the termination.

Sarr will travel back to England today and return to an unchanged situation, worsened by the knowledge that it will be another six months before he will be able to pursue regular