After two years in the south of France, Michy Batshuayi is leaving Marseille, the Belgian national team striker confirmed in a heartfelt statement on Saturday.
Likely destination? (10th-place) Premier League side Chelsea.
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With a $44-million bid reportedly accepted earlier this week, Chelsea have gazumped Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Crystal Palace in their efforts to sign the 22-year-old scorer of 17 league goals last season (36 appearances — 23 goals in 50 appearances, all competitions).
Following Belgium’s elimination from EURO 2016, where the former Standard Liege (Belgium) goal-getter scored one goal in 21 minutes of playing time (two substitute appearances), on Friday, Batshuayi is expected to be confirmed as new Blues boss Antonio Conte‘s first summer signing on Sunday.
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The signing of Batshuayi will only further fuel the speculation regarding the future of Chelsea striker Diego Costa, whose name has been linked to a return to Atletico Madrid, or a move to China this summer. Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain this summer, but Batshuayi’s arrival would likely force Higuain to look elsewhere for a Premier League move.
