Napoli believe they have an agreement in place with Chelsea that will allow them to sign midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko on a permanent basis for €18m (£16m) next summer, according to reports in Italy.

The Frenchman moved to the Serie A side on a season-long loan last month, with the Partenopei paying a €2m (£1.8m) loan fee, but there was no formal purchase option included in the deal.

However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis thinks he has a gentleman’s agreement with Chelsea that would see Bakayoko move to Italy permanently if they pay the €18m (£16m) fee.

Whether that is in fact the case, we shall have to wait and see. The Blues paid Monaco £40m for the player three years ago and it would be a significant loss to take on the 26-year-old.

Bakayoko is, though, not part of manager Frank Lampard’s first-team plans so they may just decide to take a loss on the player.