Chelsea sold Matic to Manchester United in a £40million deal this summer, with Bakayoko coming in as his replacement from Monaco for the same price.
Blues manager Antonio Conte has been heavily criticised for selling the 29-year-old, who was crucial in last season’s title success.
But Nevin reckons brining in “superhuman” Bakayoko, at six years younger than Matic, is a great piece of business.
Bakayoko made his Chelsea debut on Sunday in the 2-1 win over Tottenham at Wembley, making his return from a knee operation during the summer.
Nevin told the club’s website: “Nemanja Matic has gone and has made a fine start at United, so well done him.
“He did a great job for this club and we are grateful for that. Many were quick to suggest it was a mistake to let him go.
“But if Tiemoue is as good, he is also crucially six years younger and that counts for a great deal when you are building a squad.
“His energy levels on the day were bordering on superhuman considering the lack of training and match fitness.
“You can only guess at what else he will have to offer in the future when you see him striding away from top players who are many weeks, or even months, ahead of him in their season’s fitness regimes.”
