Michy Batshuayi has agreed to join Valencia on loan after Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri explained to him he would only play a bit-part role at Stamford Bridge this season.
The Chelsea boss had initially planned to make Batshuayi a key part of his plans, but decided otherwise after taking a closer look at the Belgium forward.
Batshuayi, who adopted the nickname ‘batman’ during his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund last season, hinted his move to Spain was close by tweeting a bat emjoi next to an ellipsis on Friday afternoon.
A host of other clubs around Europe were interested in taking Batshuayi on loan after he impressed by netting nine goals in the back-end of last season for Dortmund, but he has opted to move to Valencia with ambitions to play regular football in La Liga.
The 24-year-old will spend the entire season at the La Liga side, but there is no view to a permanent switch included in the deal.
Sarri managed to strengthen his Chelsea squad with two new arrivals this week in Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mateo Kovacic, but fans will be bemused by his decision to allow a striker leave the club before the start of the season.
Alvaro Morata is yet to set the world alight after a disappointing campaign last season and Olivier Giroud represents the only main challenger to lead Chelsea’s attack.
Batshuayi’s move does however hand Tammy Abraham his Chelsea chance, with Sarri making the Englishman back-up to Morata and Giroud.