Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has given Michy Batshuyai the permission to leave the Blues on loan – but only if he finds a replacement for the Belgian, the Daily Star have understood.
The Italian has long been reluctant to let the 23-year-old go, but according to a Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur, Conte is happy to let the player spend the remainder of the season on loan if another quality striker can be signed. The best option, however, would be to keep the former Marseille striker in the team and get him to adapt in the new system.
I think Conte wants to keep him to work with him to get him tactically adapted to the Premier League.
Before he came to Chelsea he was used to playing in a two-striker system. When he moved to Chelsea, they paid a lot of money for a player that they had a few doubts about.
Conte was still pushing for Romelu Lukaku and Morata and now Costa’s form has kept him out. I don’t expect him to move because Chelsea have always said no, they still haven’t got Llorente and Costa is injury and suspension prone.
He wants Batshauyi to get used to his system instead of get rid of him. They know his potential and they want him for next season. They’ll only let him leave if they get in another striker that they want.
– Kristof Terreur, Betway (Daily Star)
Batshuayi has been linked with moves to Premier League sides Swansea, West Ham and today even to the Ligue 1 champions PSG, according to Evening Standard.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have been monitoring Fernando Llorente from the Swans, opening the door for a cheeky swap deal should the Welsh side agree to sell their star man, who Conte so much admires.
