According to reports in The Mirror, Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi is a €40m (approximately £36m) target for French side Lille before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Mirror says that the Ligue 1 outfit’s manager Marcelo Bielsa – who managed Batshuayi during the duo’s time together with Marseille – is ready to end the striker’s Chelsea nightmare and sign him for £36m.

The 23-year-old joined the Blues in a £33m deal from the Marseille last summer and he and the supporters would have hoped that he could make a big impression following an impressive campaign with L’OM.

However, Antonio Conte preferred Diego Costa over the Belgium international and he made just one Premier League start throughout the whole of the previous season, playing just 235 minutes in total in the top flight.

Batshuayi may have expected more opportunities this term with Costa set to leave, but despite starting against Burnley on the opening day he already looks to be behind new boy Alvaro Morata in the pecking order, while he also scored an own goal in the win against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

How did Batshuayi do last season?

Soccer Football - Arsenal v Chelsea - Pre Season Friendly - June 22, 2017  Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi celebrates scoring their second goal with Willian   REUTERS/JASON LEE

He may have played just 702 minutes of first team football, but the 23-year-old certainly showed some glimpses of his ability and the reason Chelsea shelled out for him last summer.

The Belgium international scored nine goals and provided three assists during that time on the pitch – not too bad when you consider that most of his outings came off of the substitutes’ bench.

Why has he struggled to impress Conte?

It’s difficult to say, but the Italian sees him in training every day and must be sure that he is making the right decision.

The arrival of Morata from Real Madrid this summer isn’t likely to improve Batshuayi’s mood in a World Cup year either, as he will be aware that he is once again the second-choice striker even though he should get more minutes on the pitch because of the club’s return to the group stages of the Champions League.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, there seems to be little doubt that Chelsea and Batshuayi may decide that a move is right should the Blues receive an acceptable offer for the 23-year-old, but it remains to be seen whether Lille will offer around £36m considering their current club-record signing Thiago Maia cost €14m (approximately £12.8m) earlier this summer.

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