da roleta： Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko has become one of Europe’s most sought-after young midfielders following his impressive displays for the Ligue 1 side this season.
da pinup bet： A host of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United have been linked with a move for the 22-year-old Frenchman, who has made 28 appearances for the Mediterranean outfit this term.
Bakayoko’s rise to stardom has come quickly. He started his career at Rennes B during the 2012/13 season as a teenager before quickly progressing to the first-team side. One impressive season later, and giants Monaco came calling, paying around £7m for his services.
While the signing may have paled into the realms of insignificance amongst some of the club’s bigger money signings, it is the France U-21 international who has stolen the show at the Stade Louis II.
So what will Man United be getting for their money if they do manage to secure the services of the highly-rated midfielder? Here are TEN things you need to know about the Premier League bound Bakayoko …
Young Toure
Not only is Bakayoko’s style eerily similar to that of a young Yaya Toure, who in his Barcelona days was a more defensively minded player, the Monaco star has also admitted to being a big admirer of the Ivory Coast international.
He said:
“If there’s one player I admire, it’s Yaya Toure,” he said of the City and Ivory Coast star in 2011. “Because he has everything I would like to have in my game one day.”
Kante 2.0
According to SportsKeeda, per-game, the Monaco sensation has, believe it or not, outdone Chelsea’s much revered N’Golo Kante in almost all departments.
The Frenchman beats his national counterpart in terms of tackles, interceptions, aerial duels won, clearances and dribbles completed this season.
Not bad, that!
Not a Great Start
Life wasn’t always dandy at Monaco for the midfielder, after he was substituted by boss Leonardo Jardim after only 32 minutes for team-mate Valere Germain in what was a 2-1 home defeat against Lorient once upon a time.
Safe to say, his fortunes have only gone upwards since then.
Man in Form
As per WhoScored, Bakayoko has been the best player in the AS Monaco team with a 7.51 rating.
In fact, he stands at the number six spot amongst all the Ligue 1 players, the highest rating being just slightly higher (7.65).
His rating in the Champions League is an even better at 7.58.
Albion Bound?
Before the Premier League’s big boys started sniffing around, it was one of the division’s surprise teams this year that were linked with a move for the midfielder.
Tony Pulis’ West Brom were allegedly interested in making Bakayoko their main transfer target this January, having failed to make a move for him during the summer.
A Wanted Man
Not only are a host of Premier League clubs interested in the midfielder’s signature, Monaco are also keen to keep their star man on the books.
The French side are set to offer Bakayoko a new contract in order to tempt him to stay with the club, who impressed in the Champions League group stage this season, winning their group ahead of both Tottenham and Bayer Leverkusen.
Three is Magic Number
Last summer Man United famously snapped up Paul Pogba, but the now world-record man was not the only French midfield they wanted, with Blaise Matuidi also targetted.
With United set for a further reshape in search of the title, you can’t help but feel it would hard not to count them as one of the favourites should they team Pogba up with Matuidi and Bakayoko.
Big Money
If Monaco are to sell Bakayoko, they are almost guaranteed to make a hefty profit on the £7m they signed him for back in 2014.
With top stars now often going for £30m+, Monaco could drive his price up if Man United enter the bidding.
On Jose’s Radar
ESPN claim that Mourinho is a huge fan of Bakayoko, whom he sees as the ideal man to get the best out of Pogba in his new-look midfield.
The Portuguese boss is supposedly looking at a summer move, but could be tempted to make a bid earlier should rival interest increase to the point bids are made.
Not To Be
Unfortunately, despite the interest from the Premier League’s big boys, it appears that Bakayoko isn’t quite ready for a move to England just yet.
As quoted by ESPN, Bakayoko said:
“I have had a good first six months, but the season is not over. I won’t leave Monaco this winter, that’s a certainty. I don’t want to leave. Of course, the Premier League makes you dream, but I have no reason to leave this winter.”
Oh well! Maybe in the summer…