Baba Rahman back in training, back on Schalke 04 transfer radar

Chelsea left wing-back Baba Rahman is going on almost a year out with the ACL and meniscus tear he suffered at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, but it looks like he could be getting close to playing again. But whether he’s going to be playing at Chelsea or Schalke 04, where he was on loan already at the time of the injury, is unclear, though the latter option seems to be gaining traction once again.

Schalke were ready to take him back in the summer as well before a setback pushed out the timeline for his recovery. Now, as their sporting director revealed, they are ready to make their move once again.

“Baba has now been fully training for two weeks. We are in talks with Chelsea, and the doctors of both clubs are in contact. [If he is ready to play in a couple weeks] that would be fine for us, but what we do not want is that he needs two more months, because then the second half of the season is almost over.”

-Christian Heidel; source: kicker via Google Translate

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte cast doubt over Baba’s immediate future with Chelsea when asked about the 23-year-old last week, and made it sound like there is plenty of physical work that needs to be done before the former Augsburg standout can truly make an impact once again. Chelsea could certainly use a backup for Marcos Alonso on the left flank, but it sounds like Baba isn’t going to be that option either due to his physical condition or due to a loan move back out to Schalke (or Fiorentina, who were also linked recently).