According to News Shopper, Crystal Palace are prepared to pay £20 million in the summer to secure the services of Chelsea unwanted player Michy Batshuayi.
The Eagles had inquired about a move for the Belgian striker during the mid-season trading period in January but were blown out of the water after Chelsea demanded a fee of around £45 million for the 26-year-old.
However, the Blues’ have apparently altered their stance on the misfiring hitman in recent months, with Batshuayi slipping down to a third-choice striker behind Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud in Frank Lampard’s pecking order.
The Sun reported earlier in March that Chelsea are prepared to ‘slash Batshuayi asking price’ ahead of the summer window as he enters the last 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge in July.
It is understood that Chelsea will be looking to recoup a large fraction of the £35 million that they had spent to sign Batshuayi from Marseille back in the summer of 2016 but Palace are reportedly hoping to seal a cut-price deal for around £20 million.
Batshuayi previously spent time on loan at Selhurst Park during the second half of the previous campaign, scoring 5 times in 11 games, and the Eagles could pursue a permanent move for him in the summer if they manage to negotiate a fee with the West London outfit.
The 26-year-old has struggled to establish himself as a regular in Chelsea’s first-team since his 2016 switch from Marseille but sources close to the player have reported that the Belgian wants to stay in London should he depart Stamford Bridge.
That makes Crystal Palace a favourable destination for Batshuayi, who has just started five games for the Blues in all competitions under Lampard this season so far.