Rafa Benitez would take a huge step towards a top-half finish in the Premier League this season if he signs Chelsea’s out-of-favour star Michy Batshuayi on loan in January.
With Alvaro Morata out injured, the Belgium international had a chance to stake a claim for a regular spot in the Blues first team on Saturday, but in just his second start of the season, he failed to make it to the 60-minute mark again.
The 24-year-old started the first game of the season for Antonio Conte’s side but was taken off after 59 minutes in the 3-2 defeat to Burnley.
On Saturday, the reigning Premier League champions lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace and Batshuayi was the fall guy again, and showed his frustration when the Blues boss yanked him off for Pedro after just 57 minutes.
It’s clear that the Italian manager doesn’t trust him as his striker at the moment and looking at the two results when he’s started, it’s unlikely Batshuayi will start again when Morata returns.
It was reported according to the Telegraph that the Belgian forward would have been shipped out on loan in the summer if Chelsea had succeeded in bringing Swansea’s Fernando Llorente to the club.
And, according to Tony Cascarino column in the Times, he said that this tells you all you need to know about Conte’s feelings towards Batshuayi.
“When you are at a club and they are trying to sign a 32-year-old, 6ft 4in striker who would make you the third-choice No 9, then it’s clear the manager doesn’t rate you,” Cascarino wrote.
The St. James Park outfit were one of the clubs who were reportedly keen in the Belgian striker this summer.
The Telegraph also cites that the Blues are now putting together a list of strikers to bring in January, with Jamie Vardy and Christian Benteke a likely option.
That would mean that Batshauyi could well be loaned out in January, with the player desperate for game time ahead of the World Cup next summer.
Joining Newcastle would be a perfect destination and a loan move could be perfect for both sides. The Toons boss is a big fan of Joselu, but scoring two goals in seven games isn’t good enough.
Benitez’s side are sitting ninth in the league table, which is a great turnaround after losing their first two matches of the season.
However, the Toons have only scored nine goals in eight matches – of the team above them only Burnley have scored less – and they desperately need a striker who can score at least 15 goals between now and the end of the season.
The Chelsea striker would be desperate to show that he’s good enough to play in the Premier League and would be determined to prove Conte wrong.
Batshuayi’s proved he can score at the highest level. Despite not starting much for the west London club, the Belgian has scored 14 goals in 37 matches and he’s got five in 13 games for Belgium.
Playing for Newcastle under Benitez could see him finally prove that he’s got what it takes to be one of the Premier League’s most prolific scorer.