Bakayoko future unclear as agent says his client wants to play Champions League football

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

It is unclear whether Tiemoue Bakayoko will make his move to Napoli permanent this summer or return to Chelsea for a move elsewhere, according to his agent and brother Abdoulaye Bakayoko.

The Blues purchased Bakayoko for around £40 million in the summer of 2017 after he was part of the heralded Monaco side who won Ligue 1 in the 2016/17 campaign.

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Even though he had experience in the Champions League, too, he was unable to make the step up to the Premier League and struggled in his first season.

A match against Watford in which he was sent off for two bookable offences in the first half seemed to sum up his poor performances throughout the campaign.

After just one season with Chelsea, he was sent out on loan to Milan, back to Monaco and then Napoli, his current club.

He has found decent form with the Partenopei, with rumours circulating that they could attempt to make his move permanent.

With no permanent transfer clause within the loan deal, though, his future remains up in the air.

Bakayoko’s future

Though the club is not certain for next season, any team interested in Bakayoko will need to be playing Champions League football, according to Abdoulaye Bakayoko.

“It’s a good moment, Tiémoué scored in his last game with Napoli and the team are back in the top four,” Abdoulaye told CalcioNapoli24.

“He is happy to play at Napoli, one of the best Serie A clubs. I respect Gennaro Gattuso, it was important to join him again after their experience at Milan. It’s been a nice season, Tiemoue feels at ease in the city and the team.

“However, I don’t know if he will remain at Napoli. If they qualify for the Champions League things could change.

“He wants to play in the Champions League, but it also depends on Napoli and Chelsea. Napoli don’t have an option to sign him permanently, Tiemoue is happy, but he is aware his destiny depends on what Chelsea and Napoli want to do.”

Napoli are currently third in Serie A and find themselves in a good position to qualify for the Champions League, but the competition is fierce as there are just seven points separating Atalanta in second to Lazio in sixth.