What a turnaround!
From boos and whistles and criticism from media and the fans alike, to appreciation and applause and approval, Tiémoué Bakayoko’s loan spell at AC Milan from Chelsea has been a bit of a roller-coaster already, and we’re not even halfway through the season!
At one point, and even that long ago, things were so bad that Milan were considering sending him back to Chelsea. But now, thanks in part to his improving performances as well as a bit of an injury crisis, that idea has been thrown out the window.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) put that down largely to the injury crisis that may yet see Bakayoko deployed as a center back, even. (Milan could reportedly also look to Chelsea’s Gary Cahill to help solve that crisis.)
It may be too soon to claim that Bakayoko is at Milan to stay for good, as the €35 million buy-option included in his loan deal still represent a steep investment to make — though some rumblings of Milan trying to negotiate a few of around €20 million have popped recently. But if Bakayoko continues his upward trend and continues to put in consistent performances, he may yet see a few more large transfer fees in his career.