Michy Batushuayi. Let’s be honest now, the striker has been a flop since joining the club in 2016 from French club Marseille for £33 million.
However, the Belgian international looks to be invigorated after a more than successful half-season loan spell at fellow Premier League club Crystal Palace. Batshuayi scored six goals in just 13 games for the Eagles, and with a transfer ban for the next two windows, Batshuayi is by far the best option to lead Chelsea’s forward line next season.
When compared to his competition for a starting place next season, Batshuayi is the outstanding candidate when you compare the traits and experiences of the three strikers.
£27 million-rated Batshuayi is like any other modern-day forward who doesn’t stand above six feet tall. He is very good with his feet in and around the penalty box, and when you mix that in with his more than lethal finishing, Batshuayi looks to be Chelsea’s best hope for next season. The 25-year-old also has the hunger and desire to track back and work hard for the team.
In comparison, Olivier Giroud is a more traditional number nine. He holds the ball up and relies on service to get most of his goals. His only involvement in attacks is to play clever little flicks, rather than picking up the ball and running at defences. Giroud’s goal contributions are hardly good reading, with just two goals and four assists in his 27 Premier League games. He did score 11 goals as he finished top scorer in the Europa League, however, that proves insignificant as he seemingly played teams who provide little to no competition for the west London side. This can be seen in the comparison between Chelsea’s form in the Premier League and the Europa League, which show big contrasts. 4-0 and 6-0 losses away to Bournemouth and Manchester City tell you the story of the level of Chelsea.
After the loss of Eden Hazard, who was crucial on the ball for Chelsea, and the lack of a creative midfielder, Chelsea can ill-afford to have a passenger as their main striker. While Giroud does link well with his attackers, he does not possess the ball-playing ability that Batshuayi does, who also is far quicker than the Frenchman. Batshuayi should be starting ahead of Giroud next season.
