Reports: Chelsea agree deal to sign Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi
Chelsea have agreed a deal with Olympique de Marseille to sign Michy Batshuayi according to reports. The fee agreed between the clubs for the transfer of the striker is said to be €40 million.
The Belgian striker is currently with the National team at the EUROs where they will face Wales in the Q-Finals. L'Equipe are reporting that the striker will undergo his medical for Chelsea today from Bordeaux – the place where the Belgian team is currently staying.
Batshuayi, 22, has been a target for several other Premier League clubs including Tottenham, Crystal Palace and West Ham United. Tottenham have been trying to sign him for a long time and were very keen on him last summer. Marseille were reluctant to sell and hence Spurs ended up signing Clinton Njié from Lyon.
West Ham United have made several approaches for the striker this summer as they look to make some big money signing ahead of their first season at the Olympic Stadium. It is reported that the London club have had more than 2 bid rejected by Marseille for the Belgian. The bids are reported to be in the region of over £30 million.
Crystal Palace were the latest Premier League side to show interest in signing Batshuayi. The Londoners made a whopping €38 million bid for the striker on Monday and Marseille reportedly accepted the bid. Batshuayi is said to have rejected the move to Palace as he’s looking to sign for a ‘big club’ so that he can play in Europe.
The French club have to sell Batshuayi before July 5th to avoid a transfer embargo. Marseille have to raise £21m or risk sanctions from Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) - the organisation that regulates the finances of football clubs in France.
Standard Liege have a 35% sell-on clause in Batshuayi’s contract at Marseille and that has been the main reason why the French club have insisted on a huge fee for the 22-year-old.
Batshuayi will have big shoes to fill when he signs for Chelsea as the last striker to sign for the Blues from Marseille was Didier Drogba. The Ivory Coast striker turned into a Chelsea legend. Drogba scored 104 goals in 254 apps for Chelsea in his 2 spells at the club. He was a fan favorite from his very first season.
Michy Batshuayi was Antonio Conte’s 3rd choice in the ‘must sign’ striker list after Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku. Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois might have played a huge part in convincing Batshuayi to choose Chelsea over Tottenham. Belgian team-mate, Radja Nainggolan might also join him at Chelsea very soon.