Midfielder shone in a stellar Monaco side in 2017 but has drifted since, and Ligue 1 cancellation has left his career up in the air
It is unlikely to be a glorious return for Tiémoué Bakayoko. There is no gaping hole for the Frenchman to fill in midfield. West London beckons only because the forced cancellation of the Ligue 1 season has brought a premature end to Bakayoko’s loan at Monaco, who are unlikely to have the finances required to complete a permanent deal for a player once regarded as one of the brightest young talents in Europe.
Three years ago Bakayoko was one of the hottest properties around, dominating opponents as Leandro Jardim’s dashing young Monaco side pipped Paris Saint-Germain to the French title and motored to the Champions League semi-finals. The team included Fabinho, Bernardo Silva and Kylian Mbappé, all of whom have played brilliantly since leaving Monaco at the end of that campaign or, in Silva’s case, a year later, but Bakayoko was not out of place in their company. He was technically adroit, a powerful presence and, with France a year away from becoming world champions, looked set for a big future on the international stage.
Written by Jacob Steinberg
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/apr/29/tiemoue-bakayoko-back-in-chelsea-limbo-after-monaco-season-ends under the title “Tiémoué Bakayoko back in Chelsea limbo after Monaco season ends”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
