Under Antonio Conte, Chelsea were able to win the 2016/17 Premier League title, finishing the season with an impressive 93 points.
Ultimately, then, it was a very good campaign for Chelsea, who also managed to reach the FA Cup final.
In the summer of 2016, the Blues signed the likes of Marcos Alonso, N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi, players who all contributed to the team’s success.
They obviously would have been delighted with winning the Premier League title in their first season at the club. Batshuayi, though, also would have felt some disappointment during that campaign.
Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea wanted Borussia Dortmund to pay more than £50m for Michy Batshuayi
Batshuayi could not break into the Chelsea starting XI in either of Conte’s two seasons at the club, resulting in a loan move to Borussia Dortmund in January 2018.
In Chelsea’s title-winning campaign, the Belgian made just one start in the Premier League, while he could only make three the following term before his temporary switch to Dortmund.
While Conte adored Kante and others, the Italian was not a fan of Batshuayi, despite the 31-year-old’s contribution to Chelsea’s title glory.
It was Batshuayi who clinched the Premier League crown for the Blues after his winner in a 1-0 victory away at West Bromwich Albion.
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At Dortmund, he was way more appreciated. And after a very successful loan spell there, the German club wanted to sign him permanently.
However, Chelsea wanted in excess of £50m for Batshuayi, according to a report from The Standard, and a deal never happened in the end. Former director Marina Granovskaia not agreeing a fee with Dortmund will undoubtedly have to go down as a mistake.
The Belgium international went out on more loans before eventually joining Fenerbahce on a free transfer in 2022. Today, he is plying his trade in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Michy Batshuayi’s Chelsea record
In total, Batshuayi made 77 appearances for Chelsea and scored 25 goals. The former Dortmund loanee is quite a good poacher, so with more minutes, he probably could have netted a few more times for the Blues.
Michy Batshuayi’s Chelsea career Appearances Goals Assists
Premier League 48 8 3
Champions League 8 3 0
FA Cup 10 6 2
Carabao Cup 10 8 1
Community Shield 1 0 0
Total 77 25 6
During his time at Stamford Bridge, he also contributed to Chelsea’s 2018 FA Cup triumph, though he was not at Wembley on the day of the final to collect his medal after joining Dortmund on loan.
At present, Chelsea’s strike force consists of Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, so the club have some work to do this summer.
Liam Delap could arrive at Chelsea to add more depth to that area of Enzo Maresca‘s squad.