Tiemoue Bakayoko of Napolii reacts after scores a goal during Udinese Calcio vs SSC Napoli, Italian football Serie A match in udine, Italy, January 10 2021 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xLM/FrancoxDebernardix/xIPAx/xLivexMediax 0
According to Daily Mail, a permanent sale of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Chelsea is the priority for his agent. The midfielder is on loan at Napoli since the start of this season. His brother, who is also his agent, said that the 26-year-old is happy in Italy and that securing a permanent transfer at the end of the season is of utmost importance.
Bakayoko was heavily under the scanner during his time at Chelsea, especially after his spectacular season at Monaco. He never looked settled at Chelsea and he has looked close to being back to his best in his two loan spells. Bakayoko’s last appearance for Chelsea came in May 2018, where Chelsea won 1-0 against Manchester United in the FA Cup Final.
Bakayoko has never had a chance to feature for Chelsea after Lampard became the Blues boss in July 2019. If we are to go by his consecutive loan spells, it looks like he never will. In the past four seasons, Bakayoko has played at four different clubs. Time to adjust to a team’s system and stability at a club help a player reach his true potential.
This would be possible for Bakayoko only if he moves to a team permanently rather than trying out different teams every year in hopes of earning his way into the Chelsea side once again. Gattuso has found a spot for Bakayoko in Napoli’s 4-2-3-1, where the Frenchman plays alongside Fabian Ruiz as a starter.
In his first season, Lampard used N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, and Ross Barkley in midfield. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and winger Mason Mount deputized in central midfield when the need arose. There was never any opportunity or opening for Bakayoko to fit in. This season, Lampard has relied on the same names.
It is clear that Lampard has preferred Jorginho, Kante and Kovacic in the position where Bakayoko would have played. Bakayoko failed to impress in his solitary season at the club. From then on, Bakayoko failed to earn back his reputation which made Chelsea splash the cash on him three years ago.
Gattuso is a manager who trusts Bakayoko in his midfield. Bakayoko needs more playing time than what he got at his parent club, and Chelsea can make money out of a player they don’t need anymore.
In short, Bakayoko’s Chelsea career is all but over. He had been given freedom in his last two and a half seasons, where he performed much better than how he did at Chelsea. With the Chelsea midfield looking overstocked even without Bakayoko, it’s better they offload him when the time is right.