Crystal Palace are back in the market for a striker in the summer window and they see Michy Batshuayi as a man to potentially improve their fortunes.
That’s according to the Express who claim the Eagles want to bring the Belgian back to Selhurst Park.
What’s the word?
Roy Hodgson has recently been handed a new one year contract at Palace and it appears as though landing a forward is at the height of his priorities.
Cenk Tosun headed back to Everton for rehabilitation after being ruled out with an ACL injury, although the London outfit are keen on bringing him back once he’s fully fit again.
However, another former player in the form of Batshuayi could make the permanent switch across the capital.
The striker was valued at £45m in January when Palace first enquired about signing the Belgium international. Though, if he is to return, the Eagles are seeking a significant reduction on that price tag.
Forget Tosun
The Turk was never going to be a convincing solution to Palace’s woes up front. After all, his record since coming to English football has been rather poor.
His output is questionable and he signed on loan for Hodgson’s side having netted just ten times in 51 appearances for Everton. For someone who cost the Toffees £27m in January 2018, that isn’t good enough.
It was rather baffling, therefore, that Palace could have signed him for £20m upon a successful loan spell.
As we know, injury has put an end to his temporary stay at Selhurst Park. Yet in the form of Batshuayi, they have a far better option.
Fellow Belgian Christian Benteke continues to misfire at Palace despite playing a vital hand in Andre Ayew’s goal against Watford – he has found the net only two times in the last 18 months.
Batshuayi may be struggling for minutes, playing 24 times for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea this term, but he has found the net on six occasions. It’s not a vibrant record but he already knows Palace and the style of football.
Did he really play for us?! No Palace fan has managed to name all of these obscure Eagles signings….
Rather than trying to sign someone who has had a torrid time in England, they’re better off landing the Blues striker. He has already proven he can flourish in Hodgson’s system too. The 26-year-old scored six times in 13 matches for Palace in 2018/19.
Meanwhile, Palace’s 2017 decision has left Steve Parish with A LOT to answer for…