Michy Batshuayi has fallen down the pecking order under Frank Lampard (Getty Images)
As per French outlet Le10 Sport (h/t Evening Standard), Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi is wanted by Ligue 1 side Marseille in the summer.
Batshuayi, 26, came through the ranks of Standard Liege’s youth system and earned a move to Marseille after an impressive time with the Belgian outfit’s senior side. After scoring 18 goals in the 2013/14 season, he moved to France.
In his two seasons at Orange Velodrome, he racked up 26 goals in 62 Ligue 1 games and made a name for himself before moving to Stamford Bridge. However, at Chelsea, the £90,000-a-week star has struggled for game time and was sent out on loan thrice. This term, he has fallen down the pecking order under Frank Lampard and thus, the Blues should sell him for a reasonable amount.
Lampard has done a stellar job in his first season as Blues manager and has taken his side to 4th place in the league table. Despite having to do with a lot of shortcomings, Chelsea’s youngsters have done a decent job.
The attacking unit has done well without world-class options up front. Tammy Abraham has led the line brilliantly so far, scoring 17 goals before he got injured. After he was forced out of action, French World Cup winner Olivier Giroud stepped up to carry on the duties and the former Arsenal star did well to get some regular starts ahead of Batshuayi.
Out of the 51 goals Chelsea have scored so far, the Belgian international has contributed with just 1 goal and 1 assist in the 16 games he has featured in. Batshuayi has failed to convince the manager and looks completely out of form. Thus, he should be allowed to leave by the end of the season as he has just one more year left on his contract with the Londoners.
The Belgian international’s previous loan spells haven’t helped him much and he looks to be on the decline. His only good time was when he played for Marseille earlier in his career. Thus, the Blues have to make a strong decision on his future.
With Abraham growing up to become a better striker, it is time for the club to see off their fringe players. Keeping Batshuayi in their ranks would also help in just wasting their resources and thus, selling him would make way for changes within the squad.
Batshuayi has spent most of the season on the bench and with Abraham doing a wonderful job, the manager should look to bring in someone who can compete with the youngster. This can happen only if the sell the former Marseille man in the summer.
