Tiemoue Bakayoko ‘arrives for Chelsea medical in coming hours ahead of £35million move’ from Monaco
France star is set to be unveiled by Blues in the next 48 hours and become Antonio Conte's first major summer signing
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TIEMOUE BAKAYOKO has reportedly arrived in London ahead of £35million Chelsea move.
The Monaco and France ace is set for a medical in the coming hours ahead of being unveiled as Antonio Conte's first major summer signing.
RTL claim that Bakayoko has been in London since yesterday, with his arrival paving the way for Manchester United to clinch a deal for Nemanja Matic.
Bakayoko is set to form a new-look midfield partnership with N'Golo Kante worth touching £70m.
Despite winning the Prem title in his first season in charge, Conte wants to add more dynamism to his side.
And having identified Bakayoko as the man to do it, he is prepared to let Matic, 28, be reunited with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho in order to accommodate a player six years younger.
Tiemoue Bakayoko - Monaco's midfield engine
- Bakayoko, 22, was born in Paris on August 17 1994.
- He started played for Parisien side Paris 15eme O when he was just five
- Four years later, aged nine, he moved to another local team CA Paris Charenton and then on the Montrogue FC 92.
- He moved to Rennes in 2008 to join their academy when he was just 13.
- Bakayoko made 24 appearances for Rennes in midfield before being sold to Monaco in 2014 for £7million.
- He has played 92 games for Monaco in three seasons giving him 120 first-team appearances in total.
- Bakayoko earned his first France cap in March after coming on for Adrien Rabiot during a 2-0 defeat to Spain.
- He was the man who knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League with his header making it 6-6 on aggregate.
- He has been described as a less flashy, more defensive version of Paul Pogba.
United were also thought to be in the hunt to sign Bakayoko.
But it is thought the midfielder chose to join Chelsea over United because he is keen to work with Conte rather than Mourinho.
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Bakayoko made 46 league and cup appearances in a title-winning season, also helping Monaco to the Champions League semi-finals.
And his second-leg header proved the difference against Manchester City, knocking Pep Guardiola's team out of the last 16.
His strong performances were rewarded when Didier Deschamps handed him a France debut against Spain in March.
Chelsea have also been beaten Manchester United to 16-year-old Ajax wonderkid Daishawn Redan.
And they are also looking to wrap up a deal for Alex Sandro, who will have to try and force through a move from Juventus if he wants a switch to Stamford Bridge.
