‘I just don’t get it’ – Chelsea hero slams two pieces of Blues transfer business

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Former Chelsea player and coach Ray Wilkins has slammed the Blues for selling Nathaniel Chalobah and replacing him with Tiemoue Bakayoko last summer.

The Premier League champions allowed academy product Chalobah to leave for Watford after barely giving him any playing time during his Stamford Bridge career.

The 23-year-old had been loaned out six times prior finally leaving Chelsea on a permanent deal in the summer, and Wilkins cannot understand why he was let go for such a low fee.

Meanwhile, big money was spent on bringing in Bakayoko from Monaco, though the France international is yet to show his best form in England.

Bakayoko impressed hugely with Monaco last season and looked initially like an exciting purchase for the west Londoners, but Wilkins has slammed both deals, as the new addition does not look in any way an upgrade on the departing Chalobah.

‘Chalobah went to Watford for £6m, they bought in Bakayoko for £40m. Both the same age [both are 23]. Where is the £34m differential between those two players? I just don’t see it,’ Wilkins told Sky Sports, as quoted by the Metro.

Tiemoue Bakayoko has struggled since joining Chelsea from Monaco last summer

‘You’ve got an English boy that has grown up, played 100 games for England through the ranks which is phenomenal, and we let him go to Watford for £6m. He loves Chelsea, he’s a Chelsea boy and I just can’t see for the life of me why we do this.’

Chelsea don’t have the best track record of promoting young players, preferring instead to look to the transfer market for solutions, and it’s come back to haunt them a few times recently.

Having been overlooked as youngsters at Chelsea earlier in their careers, the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are now shining for Manchester City and Manchester United as among the best players in the Premier League.

More Stories Nathaniel Chalobah Ray Wilkins Tiemoue Bakayoko