Chelsea have identified this strikers as targets with Antonio Conte losing faith in Michy Batshuayi, reports say. Belgium international Batshuayi has endured a mixed spell at Stamford Bridge after joining the club from Marseille in the summer of 2016.
He struggled to force his way into Chelsea’s first-team last season, primarily playing back-up to in-form Diego Costa, but then scored the goal that clinched the Premier League title away at West Brom in May. But despite a late flurry of goals towards the end of the 2016-17 campaign, Batshuayi has remained a peripheral figure under Conte this term and started just three league games, all because of injuries to summer signing Alvaro Morata.
As former Italy boss Conte remains unconvinced that Batshuayi can be the player to lead his attack when Morata is unavailable, the club have drawn up a list of targets ahead of the January transfer window, according to the Daily Telegraph.
It is claimed Conte is an admirer of Palace talisman Benteke, who is close friends with Eden Hazard but has been out since September with a serious injury, and could move for the Belgian this winter. Red Star Belgrade forward Boakye, who briefly worked under Conte at Juventus three years ago, has also been scouted by the Blues in recent weeks.
If, as expected, Chelsea sign a player to bolster Conte’s attacking options, £33million signing Batshuayi may be sent out on loan to gain more experience and develop his game. Chelsea lost technical director Michael Emenalo last week but his departure is not expected to alter the club’s transfer plans for January, as Conte looks to bring two or three players to the Bridge after a difficult start to the season.
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