Tiemoue Bakayoko cost £40million. £40million! The transfer market may be gone mad, but christ that fee has to sting for Chelsea.
After a season in which he played a key part in Monaco's run to a Ligue 1 title and Champions League semi-final, the French midfielder looked like a tantalising prospect. He seemed to have strong defensive instincts, fantastic athleticism, and a well-rounded game.
It also turned out, he's just a little bit shite.
Bakayoko signed for Chelsea only a few months after they were crowned Premier League champions in the summer of 2017, and it was expected he would strengthen what was already a formidable squad. Chelsea would go on to have a terrible season, and he was one of the poster boys of what a disastrous campaign.
He would be shipped out on loan to AC Milan last season, where he was once again more of a hinderance than a help. The Italian side passed on the option to make the deal a permanent one. Shocker we know.
And so here we are, with Bakayoko back at a club that doesn't want him.
He was in the team today as Chelsea took on St Pat's in the final match of their short Irish tour. It would finish 4-0 to Frank Lampard's side. Two goals from Olivier Giroud, and one each from Mason Mount and Emerson secured the win.
But that was all secondary to a masterful piece of midfield play from Bakayoko. Take a look at this pass.
Just another day in the office for Bakayoko. One year later, still the same Bakayoko pic.twitter.com/w2seeG8m6v
— 𝕯𝖎𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖊 𝕹𝖐𝖊𝖒𝖏𝖎𝖐𝖆♚ (@CAN_Divine) July 13, 2019
A moment that sums up the man.
Chelsea will continue to seek out a willing take for the player this summer, although that may be difficult.
