Crystal Palace were hoping to re-sign Michy Batshuayi from Premier League rivals Chelsea – but will Frank Lampard let the £33m striker go in January?
Crystal Palace are unlikely to welcome Michy Batshuayi back to Selhurst Park in January with The Sun (22 October, page 49) claiming that Chelsea have no intention of parting with the Belgian international.
It is over three years now since the Blues paid £33 million to sign the former Marseille striker though Batshuayi is still no closer to establishing himself as the first-choice centre-forward at Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old has played just 45 minutes of Premier League football since Frank Lampard took over and reports had suggested that Batshuayi could be on his way back to Palace in the New Year, having scored six goals in 11 starts for The Eagles during a loan spell in the second half of last season.
The Mirror (8 October, page 53) reported that Roy Hodgson’s side, who have scored just eight times in nine games in 2018/19, were eyeing a permanent deal which could cost £22 million.
But latest claims from The Sun suggest that Palace are barking up the wrong tree with Lampard refusing to let Batshuayi go as long as Chelsea are stuck under a transfer ban. For all his lack of game time, the former Dortmund and Valencia loanee is still the club’s second-choice striker behind only Tammy Abraham.
With Chelsea aiming to compete both in the Premier League and the Champions League, Batshuayi will get his chances this season. Patience is a virtue.
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