Tiemoue Bakayoko has decided to stay at Chelsea next season, confirms agent
Tiemoue Bakayoko will not leave Chelsea this summer and wants to fight for his place in the Blues’ first team, his brother and agent has confirmed.
The midfield enforcer spent the 2018/19 season out on loan with AC Milan following a tough maiden campaign in west London.
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- Bakayoko was signed from Monaco in 2017 for £40m after an impressive season at the Stade Louis II.
- The France international struggled to adapt to Antonio Conte’s style of play and received criticism for his underwhelming performances.
- As such, the 24-year-old spent the 2018/19 season out on loan with AC Milan.
- After a difficult start in Serie A, Bakayoko finished the campaign as one of the Rossoneri’s most influential players.
- The Italian club will not sign Bakayoko permanently and he will return to Chelsea to fight for a place in the starting XI.
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After enduring a testing start to life in Italian football, the Frenchman transformed his fortunes and went of to become an integral member in Gennaro Gattuso’s first-team.
However, despite the midfielder’s key performances, the San Siro club failed to qualify for Champions League football, and now Bakayoko will return to Chelsea and look to cement a starting berth next season.
Speaking to French newspaper L’Equipe, Bakayoko’s brother and agent Abdoulaye said: “There are some pretty interested clubs, quite big clubs that have enquired but we give priority to Chelsea.
“We already know there is the Champions League [at Chelsea] and we are looking for stability.
“Tiemoue has decided to stay there.”
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Why Bakayoko is not staying in Milan
The energetic midfielder experienced a turbulent season at the San Siro, first falling out of favour with Gattuso, before going on to become one of his best performers.
Gattuso, who has since left his managerial role in Milan, publicly criticised Bakayoko earlier in the campaign for his less than convincing form, but turned things around towards the end of the season.
Chelsea and Milan reportedly included a buyout clause in the contract of his loan move, but the Italian club are believed to have baulked at the £35m asking price.
As such, Bakayoko is set to return to the Blues, which will come as welcome news as Ruben Loftus-Cheek ruptured his Achilles earlier in the year and the club is facing a two-window transfer ban.
