Michy Batshuayi did not feature in Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Bournemuth on Boxing Day but Blues Boss Antonio Conte insisted that the Belgian striker will not leave Stamford Bridge in January.
Conte had opted to leave Batshuayi on the bench in their 3-0 win over the Cherries, despite Diego Costa’s absence due to suspension.
The Belgian striker has shown sparks of brilliance but has failed to earn a permanent place in the City first team, as they already have Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Pedro, who have performed brilliantly for the Blues in this season.
Batshuayi is yet to earn a start in the Premier League this season after joining Chelsea from Marseille for a transfer fee of £30m in the summer transfer window.
Fans were shocked when Antonio Conte used Hazard as his main forward alongside Pedro and Willian as they felt that Batshuayi deserved a chance in Diego Costa’s absence.
Football pundits believe that Batshuayi needs to prove a lot more in the training sessions for winning Conte’s confidence. And now Premier League club West Ham are keen on providing the Belgian with an escape route.
Bilic has identified Batshuayi as the perfect player to take charge of the Hammers’ front-line. West Ham are keen on roping in the Belgian striker on a loan move in the January transfer window.
But Conte has now insisted that Batshuayi has all the potential and still has a role to play for Chelsea this season.
The Italian manager accentuated that the Belgian will not be allowed to leave, saying: “He is a new player for Chelsea. To go on loan now is a defeat for the club and for me. Now it is important to be focused to improve.”
“I want to win and every decision I make is because I want to win. I have to take the best decision, sometimes it is good, positive or negative, but I try to put every player in the best condition.”
“I think that Michy is a really good player, but a young player, he is trying to adapt to this league. I try to make the best decision for the team but I am sure Michy will get the possibility to show his talent in the future.”
“Today, also I wanted to give him the opportunity to play and to have another appearance. It happened at the end but I think that we have to continue to work with him every day to try to improve him, to bring him in the best condition to help us in this league.”