Crystal Palace left it late but the South London club was able to complete a deadline day signing of Michy Batshuayi on loan from Chelsea and what a signing it is!
Palace fans have got to be ecstatic with a player of this calibre at their club until the end of the season – a player who I think massively strengthens the squad and gives them that edge in the relegation battle this year which currently stretches between 7 teams (in my opinion Huddersfield are already planning for life in The Championship next season).
The ‘Batsman’ impressed when applying his trade in Ligue 1 which earned him a move to Chelsea where he has since failed to replicate that form. Although he did show glimpses of the player he was at Marseille when on loan to Borussia Dortmund, this will be his third loan spell since being with the Blues.
I think this is a good fit for both club and player, he wasn’t getting game time at his most recent club Valencia and I feel that is what has been missing for Batshuayi since he left Marseille.
A string of games under his belt as the main striker at Palace will give him the confidence to be able to perform in big games which is much needed in a relegation battle.
Crystal Palace are so heavily reliant on Wilfried Zaha that it often forces him to play out of position. Therefore, a new forward was very much needed and with the likes of Andros Townsend showing a bit of good form recently, there will be chances for Batshuayi to score but its whether he can shake off his most recent unsuccessful loan spell. Â
Michy Batshuayi not a household name…yet
Chelsea fans have got to be eager for the Belgian to get off to a flying start with Palace. To have a striker gaining Premier League experience and scoring is exactly what Chelsea need right now; although in an ideal world it would be for their own club rather than another!
If he is able to find the back of the net on multiple occasions with The Eagles it might be enough to showcase himself to Maurizio Sarri and could be the answer to the magic question at Stamford Bridge. There has been previous success with the two clubs recently when Ruben Loftus-Cheek spent a season at Selhurst Park, gaining valuable match time and contributing to Crystal Palace’s season and as a Chelsea fan myself I am hoping for a similar outcome!
At 25 years old Batshuayi still has plenty of time to become a house hold name in West London if given the opportunity. It would be a real shame for a player who did show great potential, not to be given a real chance at a club that signed him off the back of very good performances.
Crystal Palace are in a relegation battle but in my opinion the club isn’t going to be one of the three playing Championship football next season. There wont be many defenders that will look forward to playing against a front three comprising of Andros Townsend, Wilfried Zaha and Michy Batshuayi, especially in the 6 point games that Palace are at home for! That is an attacking force to be reckoned with and one that absolutely has the ability to keep Palace in the Premier League this season.
Is Batshuayi the signing of the window? Let us know your thoughts below!
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