Michy Batshuayi is set to leave Chelsea on loan in January, according to reports. The Belgian striker barely featured under Antonio Conte last season and while he has been handed more playing time this term, he is still behind Alvaro Morata in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
According to The Sun, Conte has informed Batshuayi that he can join another club on a temporary deal for the remainder of the campaign.
The 24-year-old, who earns £70,000-a-week, is hoping to earn a spot in the Belgium squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia but will need to see his playing time increase. He has started just 5 games in all competitions for the Blues’ first-team so far this season, though he has scored 6 goals in the process.
The report also claims that Conte will target a replacement signing so that he would not be left short of options in attack. Batshuayi, despite being an impact sub, is not a key part of our manager’s plans. The ex-Marseille striker is so far down the pecking order that he even featured and scored a brace for Chelsea’s Under-21 side in a Checkatrade Trophy victory over Milton Keynes Dons earlier this month.
Batshuayi was left on the bench on Saturday for the disastrous 1-0 defeat away at West Ham. It is very clear that Conte lacks belief in the big Belgian striker. Interestingly, Batshuayi has delivered when the team needed someone to step up. Morata has enjoyed a fantastic start to life at Stamford Bridge which has kept Batshuayi away from Conte’s first-team plans.
The ideal thing for the Belgium international is to leave the club and get regular game time under his belt. Newcastle registered an interest in the forward during the summer – the Magpies are long-term admirers, and also tried to sign Batshuayi permanently while he was still in Ligue 1.
With Batshuayi set to leave temporarily in New Year, Conte is reportedly hoping to recruit Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a potential replacement for the Belgian. Aubameyang, who has netted 20 goals in 21 appearances across all competitions this season, was heavily linked with a summer switch to Stamford Bridge before Conte ended up signing Morata from Real Madrid.
What’s your opinion? Do you think Chelsea must let go of Batshuayi and sign Aubameyang instead?