Crystal Palace ‘ready to reignite’ Michy Batshuayi interest — report

Michy Batshuayi scored a goal and kissed the badge in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Southampton, but if Crystal Palace have their way, it will be one of the last things he ever does in a Chelsea shirt. As per the Daily Mail, they are apparently targeting a January move for the 26-year-old, to help improve their misfiring attack that has seen them score just 8 times in 8 league games so far — although their results have been very good and see them sitting in sixth place as we enter the second international break.

Batshuayi spent the second half of last season on a fairly successful loan at Palace already, which might make a reunion more likely. It was his third half-season loan in succession, and at the time, his Chelsea career looked all but over. But despite Tammy Abraham’s emergence as the undisputed first-choice striker in the first two months of the season, Batshuayi has managed to rise above Olivier Giroud in the pecking order, and has been getting regular appearances off the bench recently (and a start in the League Cup). With Giroud’s contract up at the end of the season, Batshuayi’s long-term prospects at Stamford Bridge are suddenly looking much better — as Frank Lampard elucidated after yesterday’s win as well.

“We need all of the players. You need the contribution of Michy coming on and getting his goal. He’s been training really well. Christian [Pulisic] coming on with a great assist for the goal. Those players, absolutely we need them as the games come thick and fast.

“At the moment we are going well and keeping a similar core of the team. But we are going to need everyone and that means training at a level and being happy as a complete group when we come away and get a result like this.”

-Frank Lampard; source: Metro

But Batshuayi’s own contract situation needs attention as well. In fact, decision-time is coming soon as in January, he will have just 18 months left on the five-year deal he signed when he joined from Marseille back in 2016.

Perhaps that badge kiss can be turned into a signature kiss on a new contract.