In-demand Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is purported to have agreed to sign for Chelsea this summer, despite holding personal meetings with Arsene Wenger last summer.
According to The Metro, Chelsea and Monaco have agreed a £35 million fee for the combative midfielder.
Blow for Wenger
It comes as yet another blow for Arsenal who were reported to be desperate to land the midfielder: Bakayoko is the sort of player Wenger’s team crave in the centre.
Reports in France suggest Wenger met with Bakayoko in November, but failed to convince to join Arsenal in the summer.
He joins a long and depressing list of ‘nearly-transfers’ under Wenger.
Magnificent
The 22 year-old has had a magnificent season in Ligue 1 and is a vital component of the Monaco machine, leading a midfield who provide a platform for the attacking creativities of the likes of Radamel Falcao and co.
It would mean Chelsea would have a fearsome midfield duo of N’Golo Kante and Bakayoko: there aren’t many midfields in the world, let alone the Premier League, that could match the dynamism and energy the pair have.
Written by Michael Jones
Follow Michael on Twitter @jonesmichael_97
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