‘Very good player’: Maldini hails Everton and Crystal Palace linked £40m man

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Paolo Maldini has hailed the ‘very good’ Tiemoue Bakayoko after the £40 million Chelsea man was linked with a move to Crystal Palace or Everton by the Telegraph.

With Frank Lampard’s Blues looking to find a buyer for a man who has not made a Premier League appearance since a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United in May 2018, gushing praise from arguably the finest defender of the last 30 years could hardly have been better timed.

AC Milan continue to be linked with a move which would see Bakayoko return to the San Siro after an impressive loan spell in black and red a year ago.

The Telegraph, meanwhile, reports that Crystal Palace and Everton have shown an interest in a France international midfielder whose reputation on English shores took a battering after a dismal debut season at Stamford Bridge.

Yet while Maldini could hardly have spoken any higher of Bakayoko, that does not mean Milan will come to his rescue.

“Bakayoko? We’ll see,” says the legendary Italian who is now a technical director at the San Siro, speaking to Sport Italia, via Football Italia.

“I don’t think we need a new midfielder, as for the moment we are fine as we are. Of course, Bakayoko is a very good player.”

Premier League rules mean Crystal Palace cannot have two players on loan from Chelsea at the same time.

With Michy Batshuayi returning to Selhurst Park, according to the Mail, Palace have no choice but to sign Bakayoko permanently if they really want him.

ESPN claims that the 2017 Ligue 1 champion is still valued at a staggering £40 million, even in this most uncertain of markets.

Everton, meanwhile, look set to add Abdoulaye Doucoure to Allan in a new-look midfield, meaning there is a very real chance that Bakayoko will find himself stuck in limbo at Chelsea.