Latest reports suggest that Premier League leaders Chelsea are currently standing in pole position to land AS Monaco’s highly-rated defensive midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko. The French international is having a gem of a season in Ligue 1 this year and numerous European supergiants have shown interest in him.
Among them, Premier League’s affluent clubs, Manchester united and Chelsea have shown the most desire. And Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who has been an admirer of the 22-year-old, has apparently edged past his arch rivals in an attempt to land him.
Chelsea’s midfield has been bossed by N’Golo Kante this season with the French midfielder being brilliant on many occasions. While Nemanja Matic has also had his moments, one cannot ignore the lack of depth that the Blues have at the middle of the park. Conte is looking for someone to put equal work rate like Kante, who would need resting with more fixtures to play next season; and Bakayoko fits the bill perfectly.
He played a crucial role in AS Monaco’s progress to Champions League quarter-finals as the French side overturned a 5-3 first-leg deficit. With Chelsea in the Champions League next season, his service could be of paramount importance for Chelsea. His impressive displays have earned him a national call in the upcoming inter-lull as France manager Didier Deschamps see him as a replacement for the injured Paul Pogba.
Not only Deschamps, but United boss Jose Mourinho has also been an admirer of the youngster. The Red Devils had reportedly sent their scouting staff exclusively for the Monaco midfield earlier and nearly brought him last winter before deciding to wait. Pogba has come under huge criticism of late for his underwhelming displays in the Premier League and Mourinho needs someone to let his mega signing get more time on the ball, something Carrick and Schweinsteiger can no longer do.
And Bakayoko seems ideal for it. His huge frame makes him domineering in the air and his vision from the deep midfield would be an added advantage for any team whether it’s United and Chelsea.
An academy product of French side Rennes, Bakayoko was picked up by AS Monaco in 2014 and has since then established himself as a first-team regular. He has appeared 25 times for Monaco this season already, scoring twice and assisting once. With him alongside Kante, Chelsea could well be European superpower, as Bakayoko’s attacking attributes blended with Kante’s work rate can make the Blues literally unstoppable.
