Chelsea misfit Tiemoue Bakayoko joins Napoli

French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has signed a deal to move to Serie A side Napoli until the end of the season on loan. Bakayoko, who is deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, had been informed by Chelsea's coaching staff that he was free to leave the club on a permanent transfer.

Frank Lampard had numerous discussions with Bakayoko over the past three weeks, informing the 26-year-old former Monaco man that he could leave the club for pastures new.

This loan transfer will be Bakayoko's third in a row, having already spent last season on loan at his former club Monaco, chalking up 20 appearances. In the season prior Bakayoko spent a 12 month spell playing for AC Milan, where he failed to impress.

Chelsea are hoping to recoup at least some of the £40 million that they spent on signing the player on the 15th July 2017, but Napoli are likely only to spend up to 20 million euros to secure a permanent transfer for the French full international, who has 1 cap to his name.