Transfer Rumour: Chelsea inch one step closer to signing AS Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko

Chelsea have inched a step closer to signing Tiemoue Bakayoko from AS Monaco in the summer

Chelsea have inched one step closer to landing Timeoue Bakayoko in the summer, as Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has claimed that the West London club have agreed personal terms with him, and only need to trump other suitors by paying the highest fee to AS Monaco.

Meanwhile, French journalist Bertrand Latour has tweeted that an offer is already on the table, claiming that Chelsea have tabled a bid of €38 million plus €5 million in bonuses to tempt the principality club into selling the French midfielder.

Monaco’s Bakayoko has agreed personal terms with Chelsea. Next step is for Chelsea to pay Monaco more than anybody else for the midfielder pic.twitter.com/XgbvJKvNPD

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) March 21, 2017

#Chelsea offered 38 million (+5 bonus) to Monaco for #Bakayoko, defensive midfielder. https://t.co/gFtGZZiC8I

— Bertrand Latour (@LatourBertrand) March 21, 2017

Bakayoko is enjoying a breakthrough season with Monaco, having established himself as a key figure in Leonardo Jardim’s first team plans for the campaign.

Having cemented his place as a mainstay, the tough-tackling Bakayoko has played 41 times across all competitions for the side and has been a solid presence in the heart of the Monaco midfield. The 22-year-old has also managed to bag three goals and an assist over the course of the campaign.

And while he is not as big a headline-grabber like Bernardo Silva, Kylian Mbappe and Radamel Falcao among others, clubs have certainly taken note of his immense talent. In fact, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United have all been linked with Bakayoko with the latter two clubs having him scouted on several occasions this season.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has a plethora of central midfielders at his disposal, but none of them have managed to make a mark this season. With the Gunners often struggling to impose themselves in midfield, Bakayoko has the potential to be a valuable addition.

Meanwhile, Bastian Schweinsteiger has departed from Manchester United, with not long to go before Michael Carrick calls it a day either. Thus, Jose Mourinho is reported to be already making the long-term plans to reinforce his midfield, and Bakayoko has been identified as a target.

However, Chelsea seem to have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals by taking a decisive step to sign Bakayoko in the summer. The Blues have put a formal offer on the table for Monaco, and have even agreed terms with the player himself as per Balague and Latour.

Antonio Conte currently has just Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas and the untraversable N’Golo Kante to choose from, and with Chelsea set to compete on four fronts next season, he will need to boost his options all across the park.

With Matic and Fabregas also being linked with summer moves away from Stamford Bridge, Bakayoko is certainly an option that will add a lot of value to Conte’s squad while having the potential to immediately slot into the starting eleven.

It now remains to be seen how Arsenal, Manchester United and other interested parties react, but Chelsea seem to have gotten one step closer to landing Bakayoko in the summer.