Chelsea Transfer News: Michy Batshuayi, Marseille Loan Reported, Latest Rumours

Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi could reportedly be loaned back to former club Marseille in January as Blues manager Antonio Conte will not grant him a regular starting spot having not wanted to sign him in the first place.  

According to French outlet Le 10 Sport (via TalkSport), Marseille are ready to pounce should they be given the chance to re-sign the 23-year-old Belgian temporarily in the new year.

Despite making a £33 million move to Stamford Bridge in the summer, Batshuayi has played only 53 Premier League minutes in 2016-17, per WhoScored.com.

According to Matt Hughes in the Times (subscription required), he was signed after being identified by Chelsea sporting director Michael Emenalo rather than at the request of Conte.

The Belgium international was widely expected to have a greater role at Chelsea playing alongside Diego Costa in attack, as Conte has historically been fond of fielding two players in attack, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

However, the Italian manager has, in the main, used Costa as a lone frontman so far this season, and the revelation that Batshuayi was not a Conte signing sheds some light on why his game time has been so limited.

Per Bleacher Report's Garry Hayes, Chelsea have been crying out for an extra man up front at times this season, but Batshuayi has still not been granted significant minutes:

Given that, it could be a sensible move from Chelsea to send him back to Marseille to prove that he is worthy of a starting spot.

However, according to Le 10 Sport's report (via Sport Witness), "many obstacles stand in the way of [the move]," and it does seem highly unlikely.

Such is the dearth of out-and-out strikers at Stamford Bridge that, should Batshuayi be loaned out, the remaining cover for Costa would be negligible.

Should the prolific Spaniard pick up an injury or a suspension, Batshuayi is the best option to drop in as a like-for-like replacement and not disrupt Conte's system.

Without Batshuayi as an alternative, Conte would be forced to either blood teenager Dominic Solanke or play the likes of Eden Hazard or Pedro out of position should he need to cover Costa.

Batshuayi is a clear talent—he netted 17 Ligue 1 goals for Marseille last season—and while he was reportedly not a Conte signing, he has the ability to break into the Chelsea first team.

Loaning him back to Marseille would not be a beneficial move for Chelsea, and so it seems unlikely that Batshuayi will return to France any time soon.