Arsene Wenger reportedly met with Tiemoué Bakayoko in November in Paris to sound the player out about a move to Arsenal but the player turned him down.

  • Meeting took place in Parisian hotel
  • Bakayoko is a defensive midfielder who could be a replacement for Francis Coquelin
  • Chelsea have now reportedly opened talks

According to France Football, Arsenal’s meeting with the Frenchman did not end successfully and now Chelsea are reportedly closing in on the Monaco midfielder.

Over the weekend, Italian site, TittoMercatoWeb, who have a mixed record when it comes to transfer stories, claimed that Chelsea had already agreed a £35m deal for the player. Now, France Football are reporting that ‘discussions have been launched.’

Call me crazy but you would think would have to happen before any deal was agreed.

Monaco are believed to want around €60m for the player who is under contract until 2019.

They paid €8m for him just under three years ago from Rennes.