Crystal Palace to ‘step up interest’ in re-acquiring Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea — report

Three years after his €40m move from Marseille, Michy Batshuayi is still trying to establish himself in the SW6. He may have over 50 Chelsea appearances to his name but fewer starts (18) than goals (19). He may have scored the title-winner in 2016-17, but he had no chance to beat out Diego Costa for a starting spot in his first year, and then Chelsea made the big bet on Álvaro Morata, augmented by Olivier Giroud six months later.

Since then, Michy has spent 18 months on three different loans, finding great success at BVB, no success at Valencia, and decent success at Crystal Palace, who are apparently looking to “step up interest” once again just as they have been with Jordan Ayew, who similarly was on loan at Selhurst Park last season. There isn’t much detail beyond that provided by The Times (via 101 Great Goals), but seeing as how Palace just lost Aaron Wan-Bissaka and could yet lose Wilfried Zaha, they will have plenty of cash to throw around.

Batshuayi does have two more years left on his Chelsea contract and thanks to the transfer ban, only has to contend with the aforementioned Giroud and young Tammy Abraham for a spot in the team. Could this summer actually be the making of him at Chelsea? He’s the only first-team striker currently with the team at training camp, and certainly should get a chance or two. Stranger things have happened ... but if not, we might find a good place for him at Palace instead.