Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has moved out of Stamford Bridge and joined AS Monaco on a season-long loan deal.
The midfielder arrived at Chelsea from Monaco in 2017 but the Frenchman has never been able to settle down in England and last season he was out on loan to AC Milan. And now his move back to his former club looks like the final nail in the coffin as the loan deal has an option to buy which the Ligue 1 side will most likely execute next summer.
“Tiemoue Bakayoko has joined his former club Monaco on loan for the season,” the official statement read.
“He spent last term on loan at AC Milan where he made 42 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal which came against their city rivals Inter in a 4-3 defeat.
“He returns to Monaco where he will call Cesc Fabregas a team-mate once again after the season they spent together as Chelsea midfielders.
“Monaco are managed by Leonardo Jardim, who Bakayoko played under during his first spell at the club, and are currently 19th in Ligue 1 having lost two and drawn one of their opening three games.
“They travel to play Strasbourg away on Sunday afternoon before hosting Marseille after the international break.”
TIEMOUE BAKAYOKO VERDICT:
Last season Tiemoue Bakayoko had a pretty good outing with AC Milan and it was more or less certain that the Serie A side would be signing him permanently this summer.
But then factors like a European ban and the exit of Gattuso meant Bakayoko had to return back to Chelsea and many believed this was a blessing in disguise for the manager since the Blues weren’t able to sign any new players due to the transfer ban.
Pundits had predicted that the 25-year-old will be given a fresh start by Lampard but now it is clear that Tiemoue Bakayoko was never in Chelsea’s plans. Though we feel the manager should have held onto him especially during a season when all the other big clubs will be fighting hard to be in the Champions League.
Yes, Lampard has a number of midfielders in his current squad but now that the likes of Kante and Kovacic are out injured, Chelsea fans will have to see the Mason Mount and Billy Gilmour playing in the centre.
And this is something which might not be good for Chelsea’s hopes of finishing in the Top 4.
