Napoli keeping Bakayoko on the back-burner; Juventus eyeing Tchouaméni — reports

Tiémoué Bakayoko’s second-half performance on Wednesday against Tottenham Hotspur is unlikely to increase his transfer value, and given how little interest he had been garnering before, that’s not a great development in an already not so great situation.

In fact, it would appear that he’s being seen as little more than a potential last-minute panic buy loan for some unfortunate Italian club — Serie A sides, by and large, are clearly unaware of the concept of a permanent transfer — be that Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina, or Napoli.

It’s the latter who might emerge as the most likely candidates despite opting not to make Bakayoko’s loan permanent at the end of the season. Napoli are working on other potential signings at the moment, but according to Gianluca Di Marzio, would make a play at the end of the transfer window — out of their own, our own, and Bakayoko’s own desperation no doubt. Bakayoko personally prefers a move to AC Milan, as per Corriere dello Sport.

Somewhat similarly, Gianluca Di Marzio and Tuttosport (via Juve FC) claim that Juventus are looking at Chelsea-linked Aurélien Tchouaméni as an alternative acquisition instead of Manuel Locatelli — who would make a lot more sense than Bakayoko, though Juve might not be able to afford the France U21 international’s €40-45m price tag.

(Chelsea could certainly make a play for Tchouaméni as well, with Declan Rice unlikely to move this summer.)

Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images