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Four players Chelsea should sell to fund future transfers

By ROSHAAN KAPOOR

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Tammy Abraham of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on December 21, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Tammy Abraham of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on December 21, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 13: Rodrigo Bentancur of Juventus battles for possession with Tiemoue Bakayoko of Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 13, 2021 in Naples, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 13: Rodrigo Bentancur of Juventus battles for possession with Tiemoue Bakayoko of Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 13, 2021 in Naples, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) /

3. Tiemoue Bakayoko

Tiemoue Bakayoko was one of the most sought after players in the 2017/18 summer transfer window and Chelsea was successful in securing his signature from AS Monaco that very summer. He was seen as the perfect midfield partner with N’Golo Kante—and replacement for Nemanja Matic—which got all the Blues fans very excited. Unfortunately, this move didn’t turn out as it was expected to as Bakayoko played just one season in Chelsea blue.

He struggled to adapt to the fast-paced tempo and the physicality of Premier League. The Frenchman often got caught out and intercepted in bad positions, which frustrated a lot of fans, and Antonio Conte. He struggled to put in a run of good performances overall. Chelsea did win the FA Cup that season, but the departure of Conte meant that his future at Stamford Bridge became uncertain. It has been that way ever since.

Since then, Bakayoko has been sent out on loan to Milan, Monaco and SSC Napoli. In those three loans, he has impressed the Rossoneri the most. Since his last loan move to Napoli was not made permanent and with his contract set to expire in 2022, Chelsea should now look to move him on for good. Nevertheless, this deal will not be as simple as it seems to be to complete.

Recent reports suggest that Chelsea has an option to extend Bakayoko’s contract for another year, until 2023, which will help the Blues in the negotiation process. Bakayoko’s transfermarkt value currently sits at £18 million, so any bid in the region of £20-25 million would likely be enough for Chelsea to part ways with the midfielder. Looking at the financial health of Milan, the Italian giants might opt for a loan deal, but Chelsea will not sanction that deal without an obligation to buy. All in all, this negotiation might very well take a very long time to complete.

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