Tiemoue Bakayoko of Chelsea has spent time out on loan at AC Milan and Napoli. (imago Images)
According to transfer news from Italian publication Il Matino (h/t Daily Star), Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has been offered to Serie A outfit Napoli on a season-long loan deal free of any costs.
Signed from French Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco in a big-money deal after a successful 2016/17 season, Bakayoko was never quite able to reach the same heights at Chelsea. After a difficult debut season under Antonio Conte when he looked well out of his depth in the Premier League, the midfielder was loaned out to AC Milan for 2018/19.
The following season saw Bakayoko return to his roots, signing for Monaco on loan where he fared decently before signing for Napoli on a temporary deal last summer. The 26-year-old enjoyed a solid campaign back in Italy, following which he has now returned to Chelsea.
The Mirror reported last month that Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel would assess the midfielder in the preseason before taking a call on his future. Moreover, earlier this week Corriere dello Sport (h/t Daily Star) added that Bakayoko had no desire to stay at Chelsea and wanted to return to Italy, with AC Milan an option.
Now, however, it is Napoli that have been offered a chance to re-sign Bakayoko, on a loan deal, as per the aforementioned report. Furthermore, it is claimed that the Partenopei can take him for no charges – whether that means if there is no loan fee involved or that Chelsea will bear his wages is not made clear.
The report needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, without a doubt. It would be unlike Marina Granovskaia to let a player on loan without a fee, let alone a player who is in the final year of his contract and will be available on a free transfer next year.
Bakayoko might not have a future at Chelsea, but the Blues would be better-served offloading him permanently for a fee.
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