Chelsea Lead Race To Sign Monaco Star Tiemoue Bakayoko
REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
If reports in The Daily Mail are to be believed, Chelsea are in pole position to sign the Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko, despite increased competition from Manchester United, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Juventus.
Bakayoko has been one of the star performers for Monaco so far this season, with his side sitting top of the Ligue 1 and progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
His impressive performance don’t appear to have gone unnoticed, as Europe’s finest clubs have been queuing up to sign him this summer. However, as per reports in England, Chelsea are the frontrunners to sign the 22-year-old, as Antonio Conte sees his as the best partner for N’Golo Kante in the heart of the Blues’ midfield next season.
With his phenomenal tackling ability and his tendency to burst forward with the ball at his feet, there is no denying that Monaco’s No.14 would perfectly suit Conte’s tactics next season.
In his team’s 3-1 win against Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League, Bakayoko made eight defensive actions – six more than any other Monaco’s midfielder.
The powerful midfielder has so far played 46 games in all competitions this season, and has also chipped in with 3 goals and an assist.
Bakayoko is under contract with the French outfit until 2019, but he is expected to leave this summer nonetheless, as the Ligue 1 leaders look to bring in Anderlecht’s teenage sensation Youri Tielemans.
Conte, who criticised the Manchester clubs for spending large amounts of cash last summer, is expected to make a significant improvement to his side as they are set to return to the Champions League. Perhaps the main reason why the former Juve manager is desperate to land the defensive midfielder is that Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic’s futures at Stamford Bridge are uncertain.
Fabregas is AC Milan’s top summer target, while Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a move for the Serbian Matic.
Written by Pragadeesh Shanmugam 