Whatever hopes you had of Loïc Rémy acting as depth behind Michy Batshuayi this season after scoring a brace during the behind-closed-doors drubbing of Fulham were quickly gunned down by Sky sources this morning, with the news outlet claiming the 30-year-old striker is leaving Stamford Bridge this summer. (Ed. note: No. Way. I. Wasn’t. Sitting. Down. This. Is. Shocking. B-b-b-b-reaking.)
BREAKING French forward Loic Remy to leave #Chelsea this summer, according to Sky sources. #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/sx3siKsXRB
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) July 16, 2017
This report was also picked up by the Telegraph, who, in an article about new signing Tiemoue Bakayoko probably missing the start of the season due to the knee injury issues, inserted this snippet about the in demand out of favour striker.
Chelsea beat Fulham 8-2 which included a goal from Loïc Rémy, who has not played a competitive first team game for the club since April 2016 and is expected to join Lille this summer.
You’d be forgiven for forgetting all about Rémy, quite honestly, after he spent a rather forgettable 2016-17 campaign on loan over at Crystal Palace, managing a meagre five league appearances after battling both injuries and, later, Big Sam Allardyce. Rémy does have a decent record in a Chelsea shirt, scoring 8 goals in 32 league games (12 in 47 altogether), but famously also has a reputation around these parts of getting injured whenever he had the chance to be first choice, before losing his squad place to Batshuayi last summer.
So, as quickly as the Loïc Rémy hype train rolled into town, it appears to be leaving just as quickly, and without picking up any new passengers as a return home looks likely on the cards for Frenchmen. Fortunately, he’ll leave his non-homegrown squad spot behind.
Hashtag #LoicANewSigning is dead; let us mourn appropriately.