You may have read yesterday the frankly mind-boggling news that Crystal Palace had agreed to splash out a club record €38 million fee for one of Europe's top young marksmen, Marseille's Michy Batshuayi.
Reports this morning, however, suggest that Chelsea have stepped in at the 11th hour to gazump their London rivals to the Belgian's signature and restore some sort of sense to the transfer system as we know it.
Batshuayi looks set to become the first piece in Antonio Conte's rebuilding of a Chelsea side whose title defence imploded into mediocrity last season and it is hoped by all in the corridors of power at Stamford Bridge that the 22-year-old can add a some guile to an attacking line that relied too heavily on the blunt force of Diego Costa, who may well now be on his way out of Stamford Bridge.
Batshuayi was in top form last season, bagging 23 goals in all competitions and became one of Europe's most coveted young strikers in the process. Something that has convinced Chelsea to splash out a considerable €40 million for his services.
Chelsea have a history of success in dealings with Marseille, having plucked their now legendary striker Didier Drogba from the ranks of L'OM back in 2004.
Batshuayi will be granted special permission to leave the Belgian team base to conduct a medial with Chelsea this week before signing a five-year contract ahead of Belgium's Euro 2016 qualifier with Wales on Friday. He's expected to be one of several new signings as Chelsea look to avoid any repeat of last season's embarrassment.
Spare a thought for Alan Pardew, though we suspect he'll find plenty of other destinations to splash Crystal Palace's newfound wealth.
[Guardian]
