Fab signing is becoming Yoko.. oh no

WE know all about his quality. He showed it last season for Monaco, both in the Champions League and on the way to the French title. It’s fair to say, however, that it may be next year before we see the best of Tiemoue Bakayoko. For the £40million spent on him, Chelsea fans have a right to be disappointed at seeing only flashes of his undoubted class. Away to Atletico Madrid in September the midfielder was outstanding. At home to Manchester United last month he impressed. Apart from that, however, the real Bakayoko has yet to turn up. In the 33rd minute last night, having robbed Antoine Greizmann on the right of the Atletico box, he had Davide Zappacosta unmarked on the left. His attempted cross went straight to visiting keeper Jan Oblak. In the 52nd minute, Bakayoko (above) gave up the ghost after conceding possession on the edge of his own box, allowing Filipe Luis to hit the post from distance. Then witness the manner in which he lost Saul (below) for Atletico’s 56th-minute opener. As elegant and imperious as he had been at his former club, he was leaden-footed and lethargic here. Eventually Antonio Conte put him out of his misery, replacing him with Pedro. And remember, Danny Drinkwater is waiting in the wings to reprise the midfield partnership with N’golo Kante that provided the platform for Leicester’s fairytale title win. It has undoubtedly been a difficult start to life in England for Bakayoko, but he is only 23. English football has had it’s share of French stars who were slow to find their feet, but he still has the talent to become a key man.