Tiemoue Bakayoko joined Chelsea from Monaco this summer (Picture: Chelsea FC)

Chelsea new-boy Tiemoue Bakayoko has admitted he’s excited to form a midfield partnership with N’Golo Kante this season after watching his performances last term.

The 22-year-old joined from Monaco in a £40million transfer this summer after himself impressing in Ligue 1 and the Champions League last term, sparking interest from a host of top sides.

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Chelsea offloaded Nemanja Matic to rivals Manchester United in order to make room for Bakayoko, who is now expected to be first-choice to partner Kante in midfield when he returns from injury.

The France international admits he’s a big fan of his fellow countryman and feels they can be a strong combination when they finally get out on the pitch together this season.


N’Golo Kante was Chelsea’s star player last season (Picture: Getty)

‘N’Golo Kante has proved it all,’ Bakayoko told Chelsea Magazine. He was the best player in the Premier League last season in the middle of the pitch and that is not easy.



‘To play alongside him would be something very good for me and it can help me progress.

Kante and Bakayoko have played together for France (Picture: Getty)

‘I’ve played a match with him for the French national team so we know each other very well and I hope we can do beautiful things together this year.’

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Kante won PFA Player of the Year for his form for Chelsea last season, as he won his second league title in a row after also playing a key role in Leicester City’s shock victory the year before.

Bakayoko, meanwhile, was a Ligue 1 champion with Monaco, with whom he also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before being one of many of the club’s stars poached by Europe’s elite.

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