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Football

13th Aug 2018

Tiemoue Bakayoko has left Chelsea on loan, according to reports

His first season in England couldn't have gone worse but he is set for a fresh start in Italy

Reuben Pinder

Chelsea fans will not be too upset about this

Tiemoue Bakayoko’s first season in England was one to forget. His most memorable contribution to Chelsea’s title defence being a calamitous half an hour against Watford, after which he was sent off to the relief of Chelsea fans.

He arrived in England off the back of a very successful season with Monaco, who won Ligue 1 in 2015/16 and reached the Champions League semi-finals with a midfield duo of Fabinho and Bakayoko playing a key role in the team’s success.

But the Frenchman failed to transfer his skills to Premier League football. Conte persisted with Bakayoko, hoping that eventually the investment would prove worthwhile but it never happened for the Frenchman.

He now seems certain to join AC Milan on loan, as Sky Italy report that the deal has been agreed.

It will entail an initial one year loan with an option for Milan to sign the player on a permanent basis at the end of the season.

Chelsea fans will be pleased by the news, hoping that he rediscovers some form and that the club can recoup a sizeable fee for the player who is evidently a bad fit.

Chelsea’s midfield will not suffer without him this season, after the London club signed Jorginho from Napoli to play at the base of the midfield and Mateo Kovačić to play alongside N’Golo Kanté in one of the two number 8 positions.