Crystal Palace set to trump rivals with huge Batshuayi bid
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They’ve been relatively quiet so far this summer, but Crystal Palace have exploded onto the transfer scene as they close in on a huge club-record move for Marseille’s Michy Batshuayi.
The two clubs have reportedly reached a £31m fee, which would smash the south London club’s current record of £10m for Yohan Cabaye last summer.
Palace also look to have stolen a march on London rivals West Ham, as well as Italian giants Juventus, both of whom have also tabled bids for the Belgian striker.
Batshuayi fired home 17 goals in Ligue 1 last term – over a third of his side’s total – as they laboured to 13th place finish in the French table.
The 22-year-old has been increasingly linked with a move away from Marseille following his impressive performances, but Palace hadn’t been regarded as major contenders until this week.
Currently on duty with and scoring for Belgium at the European Championships, the arrival of Batshuayi at Selhurst Park for such a huge sum of money would be the first indicator of the new TV money coming into play.
It’s likely many other Premier League outfits will smash their transfer records this summer, with a huge fight looming among the expected mid-table teams.
For Palace, Batshuayi represents more than a symbolic move of intent from the club, with Alan Pardew and the Eagles desperately missing a goalscorer last term.
No Palace player netted more than five league goals last term, and of the three who did reach that total – only one was a bona fide striker.
With Batshuayi’s arrival now seemingly imminent, and the club looking to land Andros Townsend – who finished last season in fine form at Newcastle – Palace are going all out to resolve their goalscoring woes next season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
