Signed from Monaco in the summer, Frenchman Tiemoue Bakayoko is beginning to settle in the heart of Chelsea's midfield.The 23-year-old - who was injured at the beginning of the campaign - was signed as Nemanja Matic's replacement after a superb season in France.Despite breaking into Antonio Conte's first team, some pundits have been far from impressed with the £39m arrival.Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes Ruben Loftus-Cheek - who is currently out on loan at Crystal Palace - is a better player than Bakayoko."I watched Bakayoko the other day up front or playing further forward against Manchester United and he never done anything in that game that made me think that he’s a better player than Loftus-Cheek," Wright said on ITV."Now I’m not knocking Chelsea because Chelsea can do whatever they want but the fact is that surely you’ve got to give the guy a chance. I’ve seen him and he’s better than Bakayoko for me."
Bakayoko rates himself against Kante
N'Golo Kante joined the Blues from Leicester City in 2016 and has been one of the Premier League's standout players in each of the last two seasons.
The energetic 26-year-old midfielder was named the PFA Player of the Year, the FWA Player of the Year, and the Premier League Player of the Season in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.
Bakayoko was upset to be left out of the French national team and made a bold statement on French TV station Canal +, as per L'Equipe.
"I am disappointed," said the Chelsea midfielder. "I believe in this World Cup, it remains my goal. I play in a big club, I think it can play in my favour.
"I think Rabiot, Kanté, Matuidi, Tolisso are no better than me," Bakayoko continued. "I respect the choices of the coach and I also respect the selected players, they are talented, they are friends. I am proud that they are selected, I would like to be with them. But I'm not worse than them."
Bakayoko's suggestion that Kante is no better than him did not go down particularly well with Chelsea fans on social media.