Report: Chelsea nearing £35M move for Monaco's Bakayoko

Bakayoko's back on.

After reports surfaced in May suggesting that Chelsea was set to open negotiations with Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko for a summer move, it appears the robust Frenchman is close to a £35-million transfer to the Premier League holder.

Those talks had stalled over the principality side's valuation of the player and his wage demands, though the Telegraph's Matt Law reports that Bakayoko, 22, is set to travel to the English capital for a medical.

For Antonio Conte and Co., the French international and Champions League standout would add a traditional box-to-box midfielder as likely to make a darting run forward as he is to level an opponent with a timely tackle.

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Paired with Brazilian Fabinho in Leonardo Jardim's midfield this season, Bakayoko was a revelation both as part of Monaco's stunning Ligue 1 win and during its continental semi-final run. The Rennes academy grad appeared in 32 league matches paired with 10 in the Champions League, earning a spot on UEFA's Squad of the Season for his efforts.

Bakayoko is likely to challenge Nemanja Matic, 28, for time in the Blues' midfield alongside N'Golo Kante as Chelsea looks to bolster a squad that won the Premier League by a seven-point margin.

It appears as if he may be the first of a slew of summer signings for the London lot, with Chelsea also reportedly eyeing Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, a wide player and a second-choice shot-stopper, to fill the void vacated by Asmir Begovic's move to Bournemouth.