Reports: Michy Batshuayi to sign for Chelsea FC
By George Perry
Marseille striker and Belgian international Michy Batshuayi will sign for Chelsea FC tomorrow, according to early reports in L’Equipe.
Chelsea FC are set to make their first significant signing of the summer. L’Equipe reports that Michy Batshuayi will sign a five-year, £40 million deal that will bring him from Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille to Stamford Bridge.
These reports come on the heels of rumors yesterday that Batshuayi had agreed to similar terms with Premier League and London rival Crystal Palace. West Ham United, Tottenham, Juventus and Atletico Madrid were all also linked to Batshuayi, although negotiations did not appear to have progressed much with any of these clubs.
Batshuayi scored 17 goals in 36 appearances for Marseille last season. An aggressive striker, Batshuayi averaged 3.4 shots per game in Ligue 1, and 5.1 shots per game for Marseille in seven Europa League appearances last year.
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Michy Batshuayi was largely unknown to most Chelsea FC fans until Sunday’s Euro 2016 match between Belgium and Hungary. Batshuayi latched onto the end of an Eden Hazard cross and, with his first touch of the game, potted Belgium’s third goal of the night.
Batshuayi showed a striker’s impulse in moving straight to the front of the net, and was rewarded for his efforts. While Romelu Lukaku currently has one more goal than Batshuayi at Euro 2016, Lukaku is struggling to find the opportunism and instinct necessary in a striker.
By linking up with Eden Hazard for his Euro 2016 goal on Tuesday, Batshuayi teased Chelsea fans with what could be a regular occurence around Stamford Bridge next year. Batshuayi’s natural movement towards the six-yard box is the kind of core striker skill that Chelsea lacked last year. If Diego Costa recovers his form over the off-season, he and Batshuayi will form the potent two-man front in Antonio Conte’s trademark 3-5-2 formation.
Michy Batshuayi’s arrival at Chelsea will surely spell the end of the line for Loic Remy at the club. Batshuayi will bring similar expectations as Remy, but will have the advantage of a deep run at an international competition to burnish his confidence and experience.
Chelsea does not have a strong track record of signing strikers (see also: Falcao, Radamel; Torres, Fernando). Batshuayi will come in with the right balance of youthfulness ready to be trained and experience on high-pressure stages. This blend is ideal for a discipline-focused mentor-manager like Antonio Conte, and will protect Batshuayi from unattainable expectations.
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As with all transfers, the biggest risk will be adjusting to the physicality of the Premier League. With Diego Costa as a lightning rod up for the rough-and-tumble aspects of playing in England, Batshuayi can be free to roam as a poacher. Chelsea would then have two complementary and potent offensive threats going forward. An unusual sight to be sure, but definitely a welcome one.