Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has said that he is under the impression that Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi wants to be part of the Eagles’ squad next season.
With the futures of on-loan Gonzalo Higuain and veteran Olivier Giroud being uncertain, the Blues may have to consider bringing back Batshuayi, Tammy Abraham and Alvaro Morata to the club this summer.
However, Eagles boss Hodgson believes that Batshuayi will want to come back to Selhurst Park if he is available. As quoted by Goal, the veteran manager said: “We don’t know [if Chelsea’s transfer ban will affect a move]. All I know is if Michy Batshuayi is going to be available and if our club could bring him here; either on-loan or buying him I would be very happy with that and I know Michy himself would be happy.
“When players belong to another club you can say “we would like him” but then there has to be an agreement struck between the two clubs.”
The 25-year-old spent the second half of this season on loan with Palace and impressed as he went on to score five goals from 11 Premier League appearances. From a Palace perspective, the Belgian provided good value for money and the club will probably be looking to have him in their squad again ahead of next season.
It remains to be seen what the Blues will decide to do with the player. Even though he was widely believed to be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, the hierarchy of the Chelsea may just have to re-integrate him into the first-team plans for next season. The Blues were slapped with a two-window transfer ban in February. This essentially means that they will not be able to sign any new players for the next two transfer windows and will have to work with young players and players out on loan.
