Earlier on Tuesday, we relayed an article from France Football stating Chelsea were keen on FK Krasnodar’s prolific striker Fedor Smolov, which puts a big question mark over Michy Bathsuayi’s future at Stamford Bridge.
Barely used by Antonio Conte since his €40m transfer from Marseille in the summer, the young Belgian striker has quietly gone about his business, keen to make the most of this opportunity in England.
However, this hasn’t stopped a few clubs sniffing around at the potential opportunity of luring the 23-year-old away from London with the promise of extended time on the pitch.
France Football on Tuesday look at the striker’s situation, and while they confirm Chelsea are looking for a backup goalscorer, selling Michy Batshuayi is not an option.
It seems the London club have big plans for their summer acquisition, and the only way they would be happy to see him leave would be temporarily on a loan with no option to buy.
This means a return in the summer, and the French magazine explain those interested, notably Lille, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, have been told clearly that’s all they’ll be able to negotiate.
A loan certainly makes sense for Batshuayi, who won’t want all the hard work and progress achieved at Marseille to go to waste, with further development needed.
Then again, a move away from the Premier League could hinder his adaptation to a league he is keen on dominating in the future, meaning a temporary spell in another English club would be the most logical solution.
Let’s see if that’s what Chelsea go for.
