Former Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend has reportedly told coach Antonio Conte to axe Tiemoue Bakayoko from his starting lineup, saying the Frenchman is ‘not good enough for the team’.
The 23-year-old joined the Blues last summer in a five year deal worth £40 million from current French Ligue 1 side, AS Monaco.
But the player, who was signed to replace Nemanja Matic at the Stamford Bridge, has struggled for form all season long, compared to his performance that led to his former side being crowned champions at the end of last season.
And the reason is not far-fetched, but for the nagging knee injury he is been carrying ever before joining the London club in July 2017.
The Frenchman last featured for the Premier League champions in their 4-1 defeat to Watford in early February where he was sent off after just 30 minutes into the game.
And the 54-year-old, who scored 12 goals in 110 appearances for the Blues between 1990 and 1993 claims the midfielder, has not done enough to be a Chelsea player.
“Bakayoko came to Chelsea in the summer, ” Townsend told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“He wasn’t fit. He hasn’t got to the levels that are required.”
Meanwhile, Antonio Conte’s men will be preparing for their next Premier League fixture against Manchester City next at the Etihad, having lost 2-1 loss to United.
And they will be hoping they can bounce back to winning ways to keep their ambition of finishing among the top four teams at the end of the season alive.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are currently 5th on the EPL table with 53 points from 28 games with just 10 matches to the end of the 2017/18 league season.
