The arrival of Jean-Philippe Mateta at Crystal Palace has, perhaps unsurprisingly, led to rumours circulating about the futures of those already in Roy Hodgson’s strike force.
While Christian Benteke’s agent made things very clear on Monday, there were more questions surrounding Michy Batshuayi, who hasn’t really blossomed as first hoped in his second loan to Selhurst Park.
The Chelsea striker has yet to find the back of the net this season despite making 13 appearances in all competitions, meaning he might not have been as great of a loss to the Eagles as his Belgian teammate.
Despite this, RTBF in Belgium are adamant: Batshuayi will not be leaving Palace in January.
They state that, first and foremost, the forward ‘is determined to fight and make a space for himself, convinced he has the potential to do so’.
Secondly, ‘the market isn’t flourishing, especially with the health crisis, and opportunities aren’t plentiful’.
Finally, the arrival of Mateta ‘doesn’t worry him since he’s a different type of profile to his’, seen as Benteke’s future replacement should he fail to renew his current deal.
Sources close to Palace have also told RTBF that the club ‘have told Batshuayi and his entourage that they want to keep him until the end of the loan’, while Chelsea ‘haven’t expressed a wish to put him elsewhere’.
Stability is key ahead of this summer’s Euros, which is a goal of the player’s, and turning his world upside down once again midseason doesn’t appear to be a part of his plans.
