Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino believes that Michy Batshuayi will not have a future at the club because Antonio Conte doesn’t trust him.
The Belgium international was only handed his third Premier League start last Saturday when he replaced injured Alvaro Morata upfront in the Blues starting line-up.
Despite the high expectations, Batshuayi was unable to make an impression against Crystal Palace – who had lost every single match this campaign until now – and was subbed off before the hour-mark.
Conte clearly lacks trust in Batshuayi, and Cascarino believes that Conte’s plan of selling the 24-year-old this January is very clear. Chelsea’s efforts of trying to sign Fernando Llorente this summer is one of the many hints regarding Cascarino’s claim.
When you are at a club and they are trying to sign a 32-year-old, 6ft 4in striker who would make you the third-choice No 9, then it’s clear the manager doesn’t rate you.
That’s the situation Batshuayi has found himself in at Chelsea.
And even though Antonio Conte didn’t sign Fernando Llorente, he’s still trying to not play Batshuayi.
Against Manchester City last month, Conte replaced the injured Alvaro Morata with Willian after 35 minutes, then when they were chasing a goal against Crystal Palace he subbed Batshuayi on 57 minutes.
How many arrows can be fired into his back?
Conte clearly doesn’t rate him and that rubs off on the fans, who think he’s not good enough.
It’s clear that his future lies elsewhere and I think he will leave the club in January.
– Tony Cascarino, The Times
Morata is believed to return to Chelsea’s line-up against AS Roma after positive training sessions this week.
Conte has also suggested that Belgian winger Eden Hazard could play as a centre-forward like he did last season when Diego Costa was absent.
It’s not looking too good for Batshuayi at the moment – will he be able to win back the manager’s trust?
