The next Drogba? Chelsea told to put up the cash for L’OM striker
Published:
The last player Chelsea signed for £24m from Marseille quickly became a club legend as Didier Drogba fired his way to goal after goal for the Stamford Bridge club.
Blues fans will be hoping for the same outcome if they can convince L’OM striker Michy Batshuayi to trade the south of France for west London.
The 22-year-old is said to be in-demand, with Chelsea joined by Arsenal and Valencia in pursuit of his signature.
And according to Fichajes.net, club president Vincent Labrune has told those interested parties just what it will cost to lure their star man away from Stade Veledrome.
“Any club interested in having Michy Batshuayi[‘s] services will have to pay €35m (£24.5m),” Labrune explained.
“Right now he is one of the most closely watched market players.”
As well as the club he plays for and the fee he is set to command, Batshuayi’s similarities with Drogba don’t end there.
With 17 Ligue 1 goals in 39 appearances since arriving from Standard Liege, the youngster isn’t far off the 19 in 35 the now-Montreal Impact striker achieved before coming across the Channel.
The hitman could be the next in a line of Belgian strikers to come to the Premier League and bring plenty of goals in them.
Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku have between them netted 95 top-flight goals in 212 appearances since arriving on these shores, and if delivering a ratio of similar standards in the capital, Jose Mourinho would see the initial outlay as well worth it.
He’s certainly been in excellent form recently, scoring in his last four league appearances in France.
Goals have come at somewhat of a premium for the defending English champions this term, with the side scoring just 16 times, 14 fewer than at this point last term.
While retaining their title looks out of the question, the Chelsea hierarchy may feel that if they can bring Batshuayi to London, their striking quandary could be solved for years to come.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.
