Spanish side Malaga must cough up £7m to sign Christian Atsu permanently from Chelsea.
The Ghana international had a bittersweet six-month loan spell at La Rosaleda Stadium.
The 24-year-old managed 12 appearances and scored two goals.
It looks like there is no room for him at Stamford Bridge with new coach Antonio Conte set to take charge next season.
Atsu has had frustrating loan spells at Everton and Bournemouth but excelled at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem when he first arrived at Chelsea.