Chelsea have reportedly set a £45 million asking price for Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi, according to reports in The Sun. If they are to offload the 26-year-old this month, the Blues must lower this valuation.
The club bought Batshuayi for £33 million in 2016 from Marseille when he was considered a relatively promising young talent. In the last four years, his stock has surely gone down considering the lack of impact he has had during his time with Chelsea.
He has scored 24 goals for the Blues in 72 appearances and much of these have come in cup games against lesser opposition. The forward could prove to be a decent striker for a team in the bottom half of the Premier League but is not worth £45 million. It would come as a big surprise if any club pays that for his services.
At the age of 26, Batshuayi is unlikely to develop much further. However, with regular first-team football, there is a question over whether his returns would improve. He has impressed on-loan at Crystal Palace and Borussia Dortmund but never quite cut it at Stamford Bridge.
It is worth bearing in mind that his time at the club has largely been a period where Chelsea have struggled for a consistent goalscorer upfront. Interested parties like Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are likely to balk at this valuation and withdraw their interest.
If Chelsea are keen to get rid of Batshuayi this month, they may need to take a large chunk off of their asking price. January prices are often inflated, but this seems like a step too far from those involved at Stamford Bridge.