Belgian footballer Michy Batshuayi is set to join Crystal Palace on loan this summer once he pens a contract extension at Chelsea, according to The Guardian.
The 26-year-old has struggled to feature in the first team since coming to Stamford Bridge in 2016, racking up just 16 Premier League appearances last campaign and smashing one goal only.
He was impressive for the Eagles when he joined Selhurst Park for the second half of the 2018-19 season on loan. Even his temporary stay saw him getting six times on the scoresheet in 13 matches, making him the club’s fourth top scorer that campaign.
English boss Roy Hodgson is eager to bring the striker to Selhurst and the Blues are open to the move. But as per the Guardian, the London side want to get the player to sign an extension before he leaves for Palace. The 26-year-old’s deal with the Pensioners will expire next year and they want to make arrangements so as not to lose him for free next summer.
The Eagles’ signing of the forward should mean that they are no longer interested in Conor Gallagher. The Blues’ midfielder had been linked with a move to the Glaziers, but they cannot make two loan signings from the same Premier League club.
It is possible that Palace want to bring Michy because of their dearth of scoring options. None of their players managed double figures last campaign and Hodgson is keen to prevent that from happening again.
