According to the Sun’s Alan Nixon, Mitchy Batshuayi is set to sign a new deal at Chelsea then secure a loan move away – and Newcastle United are one of the clubs interested in taking him.
Even with the imminent signing of Callum Wilson in mind, it’s claimed we are still interested in signing another striker and are one of THREE Premier League clubs eyeing up the Belgian.
Nixon’s ‘exclusive‘ reports that ourselves, Crystal Palace and West Brom are all in for the 26-year-old, whose contract expires next summer as things stand.
He believes Palace may be favourites following his recent loan stint at Selhurst Park, BUT that deal will not be possible if they go through with a loan deal for Conor Gallagher – with both on Chelsea’s books and clubs unable to sign two players on temporary deals from the same side.
If true, it could be a win-win for Newcastle. Either the path is cleared for us to get Bathsuayi (although I would be shocked if we got Wilson AND him), or Palace get their man and fellow loan target Conor Gallagher becomes available again for Steve Bruce.
That said, I am still unsure on these reports linking us to Batshuayi. He’d be a brilliant signing, yet Nixon reports that any club having him will be asked to pay the majority of his £85,000-£100,000 wage packet.
Will we honestly be prepared to pay those wages for someone who will be in the squad to simply create competition alongside Callum Wilson?
Who knows. After a weekend full of moves for Premier League proven players and a surprise spell of backing from Mike Ashley, it may now be beyond the realms of possibility that a ANOTHER striker arrives in Michy Batshuayi – especially now Gayle could miss the first half of the season after being ruled out for at least FOUR months.
I’d love to see it happen to give us real strength in depth (after all, Joelinton isn’t a striker, Wilson’s had his injury issues, Gayle’s out for months and Carroll doesn’t often stay fit), however I can see him joining a Premier League side who A) badly need a goalscorer and B) can play him every week. Who knows, maybe even Villa after we beat them to Wilson?
We’ll just have to wait and see. As we know from this weekend, it’s incredibly hard to predict what our business in this window will really be like!
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