Antonio Conte and Chelsea are targeting 22 year old Monaco midfielder, Tiemoue Bakayoko, according to a report from the Daily Star (via The Times). Bakayoko would reportedly cost Chelsea roughly £22m.
Bakayoko has been a standout player in Ligue 1 this season, and he is currently ranked as the sixth best player in the league, according to WhoScored.com’s rating system.
Bakayoko is a talented midfielder with a variety of skills. He is a good defensive player, averaging 2.9 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game in 16 Ligue 1 appearances this season. He is also a capable offensive player who averages 2.3 completed dribbles per game.
If Chelsea were able to secure Bakayoko, he would certainly get significant playing time, and he could be a major boost to the team’s title aspirations.
However, Monaco is currently only two points out of first place in Ligue 1, and Bakayoko is one of their key players, so Chelsea would likely have to overpay in order to get Bakayoko in January. If Bakayoko does move to Chelsea, it seems more likely that it would be in the summer, rather than in the January window.
