Before the transfer window ends Chelsea tried to do some outgoing transfers as the Blues loan and sell some players after huge summer signings.
However, French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has joined Serie A side Napoli until the end of the campaign on loan, both clubs have confirmed.
Bakayoko, who is deemed surplus to requirements at the club, had been informed by Chelsea’s coaching staff that he was free to depart the club on a permanent transfer.
Frank Lampard had numerous talks with the player over the past three weeks, informing the 26-year-old ex-AS Monaco man that he could leave the club for pastures new.
This loan transfer is his third in a row, having already spent last term on loan at his former club Monaco, chalking up 20 games. In the season prior Tiemoeue spent a 12 month spell playing for Napoli’s league rivals AC Milan, where he failed to impress.
Chelsea were hoping to recoup at least some of the £40m that they spent on signing the star on the 15th July 2017, but Napoli only to spend up to €20m to secure a permanent transfer for him, who has 1 cap to his name.
The Frenchman had only a limited impact at Stamford Bridge, playing regularly in his first term in the Premier League under the Italian manager Antonio Conte before being declared surplus to requirements by his replacement on the bench, fellow countryman Maurizio Sarri.
Paris Saint-Germain also emerged as a potential destination, but now Tiemoeue is tasked with proving to Gennaro Gattuso he can deliver as he arrives to add further depth to I Paretnopei’s midfield.