CHELSEA have agreed to loan £40million flop Tiemoue Bakayoko to Napoli.
The Blues had been in talks with AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain over a £30m deal for the French midfielder, which would see an initial loan turned into a permanent transfer next summer.
France midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko appears set for his third loan spell away from Chelsea, this time with NapoliCredit: Getty – Contributor
Chelsea have already offloaded Ross Barkley on loan, with fellow midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek possibly followingCredit: PA:Press Association
But neither Milan or PSG were prepared to meet the valuation Chelsea put on the 26-year-old and both clubs have ended their interest.
Napoli have now swooped in to take the midfielder on a season-long deal after agreeing to pay a £4.5m fee.
Bakayoko will travel to Italy tomorrow to rubber stamp the move.
But Chelsea have been left frustrated as they were unable to include an option to buy in the negotiations.
Nonetheless, Sky Sports Italia say Bakayoko is “enthusiastic” about the chance for a fresh start.
He has made just 24 Premier League starts for the Blues since joining in July 2017.
His last two years have been spent on loan with AC Milan and Monaco.
And it is Milan who came closest to a deal before Napoli pounced for a temporary switch.
AC reportedly wanted a loan ahead of a £23m move next summer – not enough for Chelsea.
The Blues have also offloaded Ross Barkley on loan to Aston Villa, with a third midfielder, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, also tipped for a temporary exit before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Frank Lampard admits he has been playing Chelsea new boys Havertz and Werner out of position due to injuries in squad
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
