Antonio Conte has been a bit slow off the blocks this summer and is yet to announce his first signing in what is his second summer transfer window at the Stamford Bridge.
Though he has a title-winning squad at his disposal, Conte is not really happy with the quality and depth and is looking to add some of the finest players in Europe to help succeed next season.
One of the many players that the Italian mastermind is scouting for is AS Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko.
The French midfielder is one of the most exciting players in this position in Europe at the moment and has been in terrific form for the League 1 outfit AS Monaco, who won the league title and also managed to move to the semi-finals of the Champions League in the previous season.
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Like most other players at the Stade Louis II, Bakayoko has been constantly linked with an exit, with the likes of Manchester United also interested in his services.
However, it is now understood that Antonio Conte has won the race to sign the 22-year midfielder this summer.
The Mail has today broken the news that the Blues have had a £35.2m bid for Tiemoue Bakayoko accepted and that a move is imminent in the upcoming days.
The Standard have backed it up with a report that the 22-year old undergo a medical in England, ahead of his move to Chelsea in the upcoming week.
Though the exact facts of this deal are yet to be released, it looks like Chelsea will sign Bakayoko on a five-year long-term deal, and will partner him with N Golo Kante in the middle of the park at the Bridge next season.
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This might mean the end of Serbian international Nemanja Matic’s second stint at the Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea midfielder is wanted in a £40m deal by Manchester United and Conte will surely look to cash in on him to recoup Bakayoko’s expenditure.
Bakayoko follows fellow AS Monaco star Bernardo Silva to England as the Portuguese international has already completed his signature for Manchester City earlier this month.