Transfer News: Chelsea Agrees To Loan Deal With Napoli For Bakayoko

KEY POINTS

Chelsea and Napoli are nearing a loan deal for Tiemoue Bakayoko, a report said
Bakayoko is set to reunite with Gennaro Gattuso
Chelsea could unload select young players soon

Chelsea FC has agreed to send Tiemoue Bakayoko to SSC Napoli on loan for the 2020-21 season, a report said. The season-long loan will reunite the French midfielder with Gennaro Gattuso, whom Bakayoko played under at AC Milan during the 2018-19 season.

After joining the Blues in 2017 for roughly $51 million, the 26-year-old defender failed to live up to expectations. He ended up being loaned out to AC Milan and then Monaco, Sky Sports reported.

The development also comes after Chelsea failed to get anything done with Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. Both clubs were in talks with the Blues for the French player, but the asking price of Chelsea dashed any hopes of a deal getting done.

This paved the way for Napoli to enter the picture and sign a season-long loan deal roughly worth $5.8 million, Goal reported. Bakayoko is set to travel to Naples on Sunday to undergo a medical. The deal is expected to be made official once the 26-year-old gets a clean bill of health from the Napoli staff.

It will be interesting to see how things will pan out for Bakayoko, who previously said he would have loved to return to Milan. Regardless, he may have ended up with a better club as he will reunite with a manager who is familiar with what he can do. And that opportunity may have raised his enthusiasm, Sky Sports Italia reported.

Bakayoko is hoping to turn things around after being deemed surplus to Chelsea when Frank Lampard took over. With another player soon to be dealt away, more could be on their way out of Stamford Bridge.

Among the names mentioned as possibly leaving are Callum Hudson-Odoi, Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The youngsters could be sent out on loan and Lampard has already had talks with them, Sky Sports reported.

"With every player in the squad, if it's a loan, you have to consider what's best for the player and the club," Lampard said. "I have a good relationship with them all and speak honestly with them. It's one we'll approach player by player over the next few days."