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Tiemoue Bakayoko reveals the influence Chelsea legends Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele have had on his career

Bakayoko has joined the Premier League champions from Monaco in a deal worth £40million and is already saying all the right things to get supporters excited

Sunday 16 July 2017 17:36 BST

Tiemoue Bakayoko has revealed two Chelsea legends have made a big impact on his career (Getty)

Chelsea's latest arrival, Tiemoue Bakayoko, has hailed former Blues stars Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele as two major influences in his career.

Bakayoko has joined the Premier League champions from Monaco in a deal worth £40million and is already saying all the right things to get supporters excited.

Aspiring Chelsea midfielders can have few better role models than Makelele, now assistant coach at Swansea but formerly winner of two league titles and three major cups at Stamford Bridge.

How Chelsea could line up next season

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Makelele was technical director at the principality club during Bakayoko's formative years, becoming something of a mentor to the 22-year-old as he developed from prospect to mainstay.

"Makelele helped me greatly," he said. "When he arrived at Monaco I wasn't a very, very good player, but I had a lot of discussions with him, he gave me a lot of advice, and he allowed me to play my style of football more simply."

Drogba, one of the club's most celebrated players of all time, has also proved inspirational, albeit from a distance.

"Drogba has had a stellar career and he managed to do so many great things, first at Marseille and then here at Chelsea," said Bakayoko. "He is definitely an example I wish to follow, be it the footballer or the person himself. He showed the whole world what he was and I saw that and admired it."

The France international also spoke of his early impressions of Chelsea, his initial dealings with Italian boss Antonio Conte and the prospect of linking up with international team-mate N'golo Kante on a regular basis.

 Bakayoko joined Chelsea in a £40m deal  (AFP/Getty Images)

"Kante has proved it all. He was the best player in the Premier League last season in the middle of the pitch and that is not easy. To play alongside him would be something very good for me and it can help me progress," he added.

"I've played a match with him for the French national team so we know each other very well and I hope we can do beautiful things together this year.

"I am very happy to be here. Chelsea is a great club with a great history, and they are the champions of England. My wish was to be at the best English club there is today.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

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1/8Chelsea summer transfer targets

Chelsea summer transfer targets

1. Franck Kessie, Atalanta

The first of many Serie A players on the list is Atalanta’s Franck Kessie, who scored six goals in 32 in the league from central midfield. The 20-year-old is subject of an offer from Roma, but it is thought that Conte sees the energetic Ivorian as a good option for the coming season and could intervene if the player decides to leave. A sum of just over £20m is expected to be enough to secure Kessie’s signature.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

2. Radja Nainggolan, AS Roma

Fiery midfielder Nainggolan was the target of a Chelsea bid last summer, and it is thought that Conte could prise him away from Italy this time around, as part of a double swoop with Antonio Rudiger at £70m. He is a player the former Juventus manager knows very well, and would fit perfectly into Chelsea’s side with his combative style. While Roma will be desperate to avoid letting two key players go in one hit, it may be difficult to turn down the right offer.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

3. Alex Sandro, Juventus

Sandro is emerging as one of Europe’s finest left backs and the Juventus man will be high on Conte’s list of targets. He is far more mobile than Marcos Alonso and would unlikely find it difficult adapting to Conte’s methods, which are largely similar to that of current Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri. The player is also being tracked by Manchester City, and could cost upwards of £40m.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

4. David Stockdale, Brighton

Asmir Begovic is likely to leave Stamford Bridge in search of regular first-team football, and David Stockdale is an option for Chelsea. The 31 year-old keeper is out of contract this summer and helped his current club secure promotion to the Premier League this season. However, his error in the final game gifted Aston Villa an equaliser and Newcastle top spot in the Championship, and Stockdale later posted on twitter that he was ‘gutted to go out like that’ and thanked Brighton’s fans and staff, adding fuel to the fire over the exit rumours.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

5. Ben Gibson, Middlesbrough

Gibson’s stellar performances have been widely recognised over the course of this season and the 24-year-old centre back has worked his way into the England set-up. He is in a similar mould to the departing Terry and Conte is supposedly a big admirer of the £30m rated Middlesbrough man.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

6. Andrea Belotti, Torino

Another forward linked to Chelsea is Andrea Belotti, who at 23 has his best years ahead of him. The €100m release clause, applicable only to clubs outside of Italy, which was negotiated into his contract by club president Urbano Cairo, makes a move seem increasingly unlikely; nonetheless, the Italian is at the very least on Chelsea’s radar this summer.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

7. Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez is thought to be seeking a move away from the Emirates this season after the Gunners’ disappointing campaign. He has stalled over signing a new contract, and with his current deal expiring next summer, Chelsea’s London rivals are at serious risk of losing their star man. While Wenger has insisted Arsenal no longer have to sell their best players, it could become a difficult situation if Sanchez wishes to stay in the capital and tries to force a move to Chelsea. Considering his contract situation, £55m could be enough to acquire the Chilean, with Bayern Munich apparently ready to offer exactly that at the start of the window.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

7. Fernando Llorente, Swansea

Antonio Conte has worked with Llorente in the past at Juventus and is keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge, though faces competition from Spurs.

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"I have the ambition to play as many matches as possible, to progress as much as I can with a great coach like Antonio Conte, and then I have the objective of taking part in the World Cup at the end of the season.

"He (Conte) spoke a lot about tactics, and training, and he took the time to talk to me about my game and explain I must be serious-minded and work hard."

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