Crystal Palace lining up bid for Belgian strike ace
Published:
Alan Pardew is set to dip into Ligue 1 yet again, with Marseille forward Michy Batshuayi now on the Crystal Palace manager’s radar.
Pardew earned a reputation for signing players from France’s top flight while in charge at Newcastle and after bringing Yohan Cabaye to Selhurst Park the Eagles boss is set to strike again for the free-scoring 22-year-old Belgian.
According to reports, Pardew has watched Batshuayi several times this season and is now lining up a January swoop.
The striker has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle in the past with no concrete bids materialising the path seems clear for Pardew to make his move.
Batshuayi made his name in his homeland, with a string of impressive displays for Standard Liege and has blossomed since moving to Marseille in 2014, scoring 12 goals in 21 appearances this season to add to the seven strikes he netted in his debut campaign.
The forward may be behind the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke and Divock Origi in Belgium’s pecking order but with a record of two goals in two international outings – against Cyprus and Italy – he is one for the future and a move to the Premier League would likely improve his claims for a starting birth with the Red Devils.
Batshuayi is currently contracted to Marseille until June 2019 but with an estimated value of just £6.3m Palace will feel they can test manager Michel’s resolve with a New Year bid.
Palace are currently priced as 6/1 shots to gate-crash the top six despite currently sitting in sixth place with just one defeat from their last five games.
One concern is the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer, with the Eagles netting just 20 goals in 15 games, but the arrival of Batshuayi would certainly allay some of those fears.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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