It has been a difficult time for Michy Batshuayi, ever since he moved to Chelsea. Now, he is expected to leave with Leeds and Everton among his admirers – and Frank Lampard’s 2019 verdict on the Belgian is intriguing.
Batshuayi, 28, is currently out on loan for the fifth time at Besiktas – after two spells at Palace, one at Dortmund and another at Valencia. In six years at Chelsea, he has only played 77 times for the London club – scoring 25.
With his Chelsea contract expiring in 2023, TeamTalk report that the Blues are ready to cash in. Five Premier League clubs are interested, including Lampard’s Everton, Leeds, Southampton, Wolves and Brighton.
Chelsea are seemingly willing to let him go for a fee much smaller than the £33million (Mirror) they signed him for – but after 14 goals in 28 league games for Besiktas, it could still be a hefty figure Chelsea request for him.
Speaking about Batshuayi in 2019, then-Chelsea boss Lampard said: “How he’s trained, his demeanour, his positivity, and quality when he’s come on, which is obviously the most important thing, have been top class.
“He’s positive, hard-working, loves scoring goals. He loves scoring in training, he always stays out to do extra practice,” Lampard told Chelsea’s website during pre-season in 2019. Little surprise, Lampard is interested.
Lampard on Batshuayi: Why Everton is perfect for Chelsea star
Everton are said to need to sell either Dom Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison this summer in order to balance the books. So, they will need a striker and while Batshuayi’s stock is not high – Lampard could change that.
Clearly an admirer of the Chelsea star, Lampard and Batshuayi might just click and get Everton firing again. There is no reason why, given a permanent home under a manager he knows well, Batshuayi could shine.
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