Tiemoue Bakayoko Medical Reportedly Set for Friday Ahead of Chelsea Transfer

Tiemoue Bakayoko will reportedly undergo a medical with Chelsea on Friday ahead of a move to Stamford Bridge after AS Monaco and the Blues agreed a fee of €45 million (£39.9 million) for the midfielder. 

According to French radio station RMC (via Get French Football News), the 22-year-old is close to sealing a transfer having long been linked with the Premier League champions:

Assuming the deal goes through, Bakayoko will join a midfield core in Antonio Conte's Chelsea squad that includes fellow France international N'Golo Kante, Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas.

According to Matt Law and Sam Wallace in the Telegraph, Matic is "desperate to force his way out of Chelsea," and Bakayoko will likely become Kante's long-term partner in the Blues engine room. 

He impressed for Monaco last season in defensive midfield, making 32 appearances as the club won Ligue 1 and starting 10 times as Leonardo Jardim's side advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

In Monaco's impressive European run, Bakayoko proved just how effective he can be defensively even against the best sides, per WhoScored.com:

He is also powerful running on the ball, so he can be valuable in attack as well.

Law and Wallace revealed that a knee injury could prevent Bakayoko making his Chelsea debut until September assuming he makes the move to west London. 

A combination of his injury and the fact he will be adapting to a new club, country and division means he could take some time to reach his peak form.

However, Bakayoko has all the attributes to thrive in the Premier League and could be a Blues stalwart over the next decade.