Chelsea outcast Tiemoue Bakayoko set for Napoli loan to link-up with old AC Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso... as the Blues give up on permanent exit for the midfielder this summer

Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is poised to join Napoli on a season loan.

The 26-year-old is due to undergo a medical on Sunday ahead of linking up again with manager Rino Gattuso who was in charge during his loan spell with AC Milan.

Chelsea had hoped to sell Bakayoko to offset some of their spending but will now hope the move puts him in the shop window for a deal next summer.

The midfielder's Stamford Bridge disaster started with his £36m move to London in July 2017 after being part of the Kylian Mbappe lead Monaco team that reached the Champions League semi-finals.  

Bakayoko struggled under Antonio Conte's system and consistently disappointing performances led a section of the Blues faithful to jeer the 26-year-old during matches. 

A successful loan to AC Milan followed under Gattuso before spending a less impressive season on-loan at Monaco - finishing the season down in ninth.

Frank Lampard clearly saw enough in Bakayoko's run under Conte to decide that he doesn't fit into the young coach's system, preferring a stack of other midfield options.