‘A difficult season’: Roberto Martinez worried about reported Newcastle and Leeds target

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Roberto Martinez has blamed Michy Batshuayi’s Chelsea struggles for leaving the striker out of his latest Belgium squad, while speaking to Yahoo Sports about the reported Leeds and Newcastle United target.

If there is any player who needs a move this summer in order to get his career back on track, it is the £33 million striker stuck to the Stamford Bridge bench like a particularly stubborn limpet.

Batshuayi made just one Premier League start all season after all, slipping behind Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud in Frank Lampard’s pecking order.

Fortunately, the former Marseille talisman still has a lot of credit in the bank – and a lot of clubs showing an interest.

The Chronicle suggested that, if Chelsea are willing to let Batshuayi leave on yet another loan deal after prolific spells at Borussia Dortmund and Crystal Palace, Newcastle could be his destination.

Leeds have also shown an interest in reuniting Marcelo Bielsa with his former Marseille frontman, although it remains to be seen if the Whites are still keen with Spain international Rodrigo Moreno heading to Elland Road (Times).

Wherever Batshuayi ends up, Belgium boss Martinez will just be happy to see him playing week-in-week-out again.

“On Batshuayi and (Crystal Palace’s) Christian Benteke we have had direct contact with their clubs and it turned out that it was better that they did not travel and did not leave the training camp,” said the former Everton, Wigan and Swansea boss.

“It is not a football decision. Batshuayi had a difficult season, but has a lot of credit because of what he did before for the national team.”

With the European Championships due to kick off in June next year, Batshuayi should see this omission as a warning: Find a new club or watch Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and co from the comfort of your own home.

HLN suggested in June that Batshuay’s £120,000-a-week wages were threatening to scupper a move to West Ham or a return to Palace.