Reports claim Chelsea are pricing themselves out of a deal to offload outcast Tiemoue Bakayoko.

The midfielder was sent out to Napoli on loan last summer and Chelsea set a £15million price tag.

But Napoli are not keen to meet this valuation of the midfielder and it leaves an uncertain future for Bakayoko.

It is possible he could return to Stamford Bridge in the summer but Thomas Tuchel has no shortage of options in his position.

The Frenchman, who cost the club an initial £35m in 2017, has spent the season on loan with the Italian side.

Bakayoko, 26, has been an important figure under Gennaro Gattuso having made 35 appearances across all competitions.

His loan deal didn’t include the option to make it permanent but Chelsea are eager to offload the flop at the end of the campaign.

According to CalcioNapoli24, the Italians would be interested in signing him but want Chelsea to further lower their asking price.

Napoli know his future at Stamford Bridge is all-but over having endured three loan spells away from the club.

He is also entering the final year of his contract at Chelsea meaning he would be available for nothing in just over 12 month’s time.

Bakayoko is thought to be determined to stay with Napoli and will do everything in his power to remain beyond the current campaign.

In January, the player’s agent and brother, Abdoulaye, revealed a permanent switch to Napoli is the ‘priority’.