KEY POINTS

  • Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi is expected to sign another year on loan to Crystal Palace
  • Batshuayi has spent several seasons on loan to different clubs
  • Roy Hodgson may use Batshuayi as an additional option on the offensive end

The Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi is set for a return on loan to Crystal Palace. The 26-year-old is expected to suit up and develop his game with the playing time he will receive under manager Roy Hodgson.

This will give Batshuayi an extended opportunity with Crystal Palace. This means that their chase in signing Chelsea rising star Conor Gallagher is out of the picture as only one player can be loaned from a team at a time. Despite the links to suiting up for The Glaziers, Gallagher will not be able to suit up for Hodgson’s squad if they finalize the Batshuayi deal, per The Guardian.

The commitment to loaning out Batshuayi will be an opportunity to develop the athletic Belgian. Throughout the career of Batshuayi, he’s been considered a formidable striker with his aggressiveness to score on the field. While he hasn’t developed into a superstar, he’s shown the potential to make an impact on any club. This was evident with his stint in Standard Liege where he played for 120 appearances and netted 44 goals and notched 13 assists.

During the 2016 season, Batshuayi ended up playing for Chelsea and has been loaned out to teams such as Borussia Dortmund, Valencia and Crystal Palace. The most recent Champions League stint Batshuayi had with the Eagles included one goal against Ajax.

There are many aspects to Batshuayi’s game that may improve and additional experience with Crystal Palace may benefit him in the long run. Scouted to lack discipline and defensive contributions, playing outside Chelsea may give him the boost to garner enough momentum in his professional career.

One of the aspects Hodgson is looking to improve is their goalscoring and Batshuayi may provide that for his club. With an estimated market value currently at 14 million Euros, he’s looking to be a valuable asset for any roster on the offensive end. In his initial stint with Crystal Palace, he’s showed up for 13 games and provided six goals for the organization.

It will be interesting to see how Batshuayi will develop outside Chelsea with another year on loan to Crystal Palace.

Chelsea's Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi reacts at the end of the game
Chelsea's Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi reacts at the end of the game AFP / John THYS
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