Chelsea sign striker Michy Batshuayi from Marseille for £33m
Michy Batshuayi passes Chelsea medical
Young Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi is yet another step closer to becoming a Chelsea player this afternoon, after passing his backflip-test medical with the club (conducted at Belgium's Euro 2016 base camp in Bordeaux).Batshuayi has taken quite a few steps quite quickly towards making this transfer a reality over the past 24 hours. From nothing to something faster than you can say SIGN ALL THE BELGIANS!
And speaking of signing, all that's left now is to sign on the dotted line. Presumably that can happen sooner rather than later -- perhaps tonight already considering that the 22-year-old was excused from his previously scheduled press conference duties with the national team.
I'd expect we hear official confirmation from either Chelsea or Marseille, or both, very soon.
Factfile
Name: Michy Batshuayi
Age: 22
Nationality: Belgian
Position: Striker
Background
Nicknamed "Batsman", Batshuayi is of Congolese origin, but was born and raised in Brussels. He made his first-team debut at Standard Liege aged 18, before going on to score 39 goals in 97 Belgian Pro League games during a three-year spell, including 21 in his final season.
His impressive form earned him a £4.5m move to Marseille in July 2014 where he has since scored 33 goals in 78 appearances.
Style of play
Batshuayi can use both feet and his dribbling ability has left defences all over France in tatters. He may be only 5ft 11in, but he possesses the upper-body strength to win physical battles with centre-halves. His style has drawn comparisons with another Stade Velodrome and Chelsea favourite - Didier Drogba.The Belgium international ghosts in behind unsuspecting backlines and his ability to bring others into play makes him the ideal focal point up top.
Where would he fit in?
Since Jose Mourinho's arrival at the club in 2004, Chelsea have notoriously struggled to accommodate more than one top striker at the club at any one time.First, there were problems in trying to fit Andriy Shevchenko alongside Drogba, followed by a similar issue with Fernando Torres a few years later.
Diego Costa is the main man at Stamford Bridge now, and has played pretty much exclusively as a lone striker since arriving in 2014. He did, however, play for several years at Atletico Madrid alongside another forward (Radamel Falcao or David Villa) and he certainly possesses the skill-set to do so again.
Batshuayi could play up front alongside Diego Costa
New boss Antonio Conte is also not afraid to deploy a system containing two strikers, and has done so to great effect with Italy so far at Euro 2016. He has set his team out in a 3-5-2 formation, a system he also implemented during his time at Juventus.
Chelsea are not in Europe next season, meaning they could have as few as 40 games to play, so keeping two first-choice strikers happy would not be easy. As a pairing, though, Costa and Batshuayi's blend of power and pace could prove devastating in the Premier League.
Would Conte go two up top?
Italy boss Antonio Conte is taking over at Stamford BridgeWhile setting Chelsea out in a 3-5-2 formation would suit the prospect of Costa playing alongside Batshuayi, it would lead to problems in other areas of the pitch.
In particular, it may be difficult for Willian - Chelsea's top performer last season - and Eden Hazard to easily adapt to a system that would see them either pushed too centrally or too far back on the flanks.
And unless there is significant recruitment in defence, it may be too late in the day for John Terry, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic to get used to a three-man backline.
Verdict
Not since the 2009/10 season have Chelsea possessed two genuinely reliable strikers to score goals - then it was Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.Batshuayi could be both a partner to Costa and provide a genuine alternative, which would not only help keep the Spanish international on his toes but also add another string to Chelsea's offensive bow.
Michy Batshuayi to Chelsea: Belgium international follows Blues on Twitter hours after £33.1m bid
Belgium international Michy Batshuayi may have revealed his next club after following Chelsea on Twitter.The Blues seem set for a surprise deal for the 22-year-old striker, who has been at the heart of a transfer battle including Tottenham, West Ham and Crystal Palace, after submitting a £33.1million offer to Marseille yesterday.
Palace had agreed a £31.8m fee with the Ligue 1 side earlier this week but Batshuayi is expected to favour a move to west London over Selhurst Park, and has spoken to Belgian international team-mates about the prospect of a move to Stamford Bridge.
Batshuayi’s Twitter account showed he had recently begun following the Football Association, Premier League and Chelsea social media accounts just hours after it was revealed that Antonio Conte had identified him as a transfer target.
Fuel to the fire: Has Batshuayi revealed his next club? (Twitter)
Marseille must raise £21m to avoid punishment from the Direction National du Controle de Gestion and have already lost key defender Nicolas N’Koulou, who on Wednesday moved to Lyon on a free transferShare this news articles:
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