According to reports in The Telegraph, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte looks to have run out of patience with striker Michy Batshuayi following the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

The Telegraph says that the Italian boss is ready to replace the Belgium international – who nearly left on loan in the summer – during the January transfer window as he looks to find better back-up for Alvaro Morata, who missed the clash against the Eagles because of injury.

Batshuayi was handed only his third Premier League start following his move from Marseille in the summer of 2016, but he struggled to make an impact and was replaced by Pedro in the 57th minute as the Blues were beaten by an Eagles team that had previously failed to pick up a point or score a goal in the league this term.

Meanwhile, Everton have endured a tough start to the campaign despite a summer of spending, and manager Ronald Koeman is under pressure to turn things around with the club taking eight points from eight top flight matches and just one point from the six available in the group stages of the Europa League.

Here are three reasons the Toffees should look to sign Batshuayi in January…

Goals

Having scored just five goals in their opening eight Premier League matches this season, it is clear to see that one of Everton's main problems is their toothless attack.

It is certainly an area that the under-fire Koeman – should he last until then – is likely to want to strengthen during the January transfer window, with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Sandro Ramirez failing to make the desired impact so far this term following their summer moves.

Having scored nine goals in 28 appearances for Chelsea last season – with the majority of those outings coming from the substitutes' bench – and five in nine this term, Batshuayi has certainly showed that he has the potential to find they net on a regular basis and he would to get more opportunities from the start if the Toffees did sign him in the New Year.

He can be their Lukaku replacement

While they did bring in a number of new players during the summer transfer window, Everton are already regretting not managing to sign a direct replacement for Romelu Lukaku.

The Toffees are missing the presence and goalscoring abilities that the striker brought to their team, and they may feel that his fellow Belgium international has the potential to succeed him and be their new talisman.

Batshuayi has shown during his time with Marseille and Chelsea that he can score goals when given the opportunity, but he would certainly need to develop his all-round game if he did join the Merseyside outfit.

Point to prove

Batshuayi looked particularly frustrated – either with himself, Antonio Conte or perhaps both – when he was taken off in the 57th minute against Crystal Palace, and it was no surprise considering it was just his third Premier League start in more than a season with the Blues.

If the 24-year-old does leave on loan or even on a permanent basis in the New Year, he will certainly have a huge point to prove to Conte.

Should a move to Everton occur, the Belgium international would be determined to show the Italian that he can be a success in the English top flight, and that could only be a good thing for the Toffees.

Do you agree, Toffees fans? Let us know below.