Tiemoue Bakayoko chose Chelsea instead of Manchester United because he prefers Antonio Conte to Jose Mourinho

TIEMOUE BAKAYOKO has revealed why he chose Chelsea over Manchester United.

The Monaco star is set to complete his signing with the Premier League champions next week.

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And he picked London over the north because he wants to work with Antonio Conte more than Jose Mourinho.

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The France midfielder was targeted by both clubs this summer but is poised to commit to the Blues for five years in a £35million deal.

And it turns out that Bakayoko - who is set to join N'Golo Kante in the Chelsea midfield - followed his international team-mate in more ways than one.

Kante turned down the advances of Mourinho last summer despite receiving a personal call from the Special One.

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And L'Equipe claim Conte's influence was decisive in Bakayoko picking the champs.

Kante said at the time of his arrival at Chelsea: "It was amazing to have Mourinho call me, even though I'd been warned before how he would appeal to me.

"I listened to his arguments about why I should move to United.

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Tiemoue Bakayoko factfile

• Bakayoko, 22, was born in Paris on August 17 1994.
• He started played  for Parisien side Paris 15eme O when he was just five
• Four years later, aged nine, he moved to another local team CA Paris Charenton and then on the Montrogue FC 92.
• He moved to Rennes in 2008 to join their academy when he was just 13.
• Bakayoko made 24 appearances for Rennes in midfield before being sold to Monaco in 2014 for £7million.
• He has played 92 games for Monaco in three seasons giving him 120 first-team appearances in total.
• Bakayoko earned his first France cap in March after coming on for Adrien Rabiot during a 2-0 defeat to Spain.
• He was the man who knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League with his header making it 6-6 on aggregate.
• He has been described as a less flashy, more defensive version of Paul Pogba.

"But at that time I was hesitant between staying at Leicester or leaving for Chelsea.

"My discussions with them were already well underway.

"But when I spoke, I had a good feeling with Conte."