Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi on a season-long loan.
The Belgian returns to Selhurst Park after spending the second half of the 2018/19 season on loan across London.
Before making the move, the 26-year-old agreed to a new contract extension at Stamford Bridge.
Crystal Palace Sign Michy Batshuayi on Season-Long Loan
Previous Loan Spell
Batshuayi’s first loan spell with the Eagles was extremely successful. He scored six goals in 13 appearances and ended the season as the top-scoring striker in the squad.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson will be hoping for a repeat of that form this time round. His side desperately lacked goals last season – only relegated Norwich City scored fewer goals than Palace.
As a result, it is something that they have looked to address so far in this window. They have already secured the signing of Eberechi Eze, whose impressive season in the Championship saw him register 14 goals and eight assists for Queens Park Rangers last season.
However, it will be Batshuayi who will excite fans the most after his previous spell. While he had to wait a while for his first goal – which came in rather fortuitous circumstances in a 4-1 win over Leicester City – his poacher-like instinct is something that Palace missed last season.
How Will Michy Batshuayi Fit in at Selhurst Park?
Roy Hodgson has used a 4-4-2 formation in pre-season, which differs to the 4-4-3 that the Belgian operated during his first spell in South London.
The Palace boss may revert back to a 4-3-3 formation. However, a continuation of the current 4-4-2 system is not out of the question. Batshuayi could operate alongside Jordan Ayew up-front, with Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze operate out wide.
The Belgian has never been given a proper chance in the Premier League after failing to break through at Chelsea. In a full season at Palace, it could be his perfect chance to shine.
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