We explore if the return of Timeoune Bakayoko help Monaco return to their former glory.

As expected, major transfers were completed on the summer deadline day, as clubs gear up to compete for the season’s silverware.

However, one of the transfers that raised eyebrows in the French Ligue was the return of Timeoune Bakayoko to Monaco on a season-long loan deal from English football club, Chelsea.

The French man who left the Stade Louis II for a fee of £40 million in 2017, a fee which makes him Chelsea’s second most expensive signing at that time returned to France after just two years.

However, with the club going through one of the tough phases of their history after cashing on their star players some season back, it seems that Bakayoko is returning at the right time.

Bakayoko who was an integral part of the team that helped the club to win the Ligue 1 title in 2016–17 season, their first league title in 17 years, forming a formidable midfield partnership with Liverpool’s Fábio Henrique Tavares (Fabinho) will have no problem settling down at the new club as he already knows how the team operates.

However, the 25-year-old’s behavior towards his coach is not impressive as he has a history of taking his anger out on managers he has played under.

Just last season at AC Milan, Bakayoko’s relationship with Genaruto Gattuso deteriorated towards the end of the season, as he could not cope with the Italian tactician.

Bakayoko also has a long-time history with the manager of the French side Leonardo Jardim after he was substituted early in a game against Lorient in 2014.

A case he (Bakayoko) later admitted: “From then on, something was a little broken between him and me.”

His long-time history of suffering a knee injury is another mountain the French club will be hoping Bakayoko to climb during his second coming at the club.

With Bakayoko’s attitude called to question by managers he has worked under coupled with his injury problem, Monaco would be hoping that Bakayoko, when given the avenue to explore, will do wonders.

However, it remains unseen whether the 25-year-old’s return to Monaco will be helpful or not.

Monaco will face Olympique Marseille in their next game. Both teams are backed to score over 2.5 goals at 1.85

 
 
Written by: Olumide Alake