With the season coming to an end, the rumour mill has started to rotate in full flow throwing up speculations, which are difficult to digest for readers from any aspect. The latest to join that category is Chelsea’s season-ending star Michy Batshuayi to newly-promoted side Newcastle United, as per reports. However, this doesn’t look as an unbelievable one.
Newcastle United did a Chelsea this season in the second-tier English football as they wasted no time in getting back up after a dismal season. They were relegated last season with Rafael Benitez just taking over the managerial position. The Spaniard, like Chelsea, was determined to get back up as he jotted a transfer plan and executed it to perfection by winning the Championship the immediate season.
But, this doesn’t make them the next cherished destination in the Premier League. Of course, there is this burning question of why would a Premier League winner think of joining a just promoted club. To top that, Chelsea didn’t just splash a whopping £33 million for the Belgian just to sell him the immediate season.
However, Batshuayi does know of the possibility of him playing the second fiddle to Diego Costa or whoever Chelsea brings in this summer, despite his late heroics in the season. And with the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens and Christian Benteke to compete against in the national squad for the 2018 World Cup, regular football is an absolute prerequisite for him.
Conte, as we know, doesn’t see him as a finished product just yet and his lack of Premier League time is an indication of that. Hence, a loan move for the player next season could be a real possibility. It is here that Newcastle United’s Champions league winning manager comes into the equation. Rafael Benitez has nurtured the likes of Fernando Torres and Gonzalo Higuain into stars, and Batshuayi will absolutely trust him with his career too.
Batshuayi is not just an arbitrary option for the Magpies for his availability, but Newcastle’s chief scout Graham Carr has been observing him closely from his Marseille days. He has scored 11 goals and registered three assists for Chelsea in all competition despite getting just one league start.
He has scored four goals in his last three outings, which brings his average to one goal every 48 minutes in the Premier League this season. He definitely has the abilities to become a great striker but his raw talent needs the perfect shape. And with Matt Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey and Dwight Gayle around him, he could be a surprise package next season.
