Valencia head coach Marcelino has admitted that Michy Batshuayi could return to Chelsea at the turn of the year after a rather unsuccessful loan spell with the Spanish club this term. The Belgium international was loaned out by the Blues during the summer transfer window after new manager Maurizio Sarri preferred to stick with Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata as the preferred options upfront.

However, the move has not proved beneficial for Batshuayi, who has managed just four starts from his 17 appearances for Valencia and Marcelino has now acknowledged that the Blues could recall him during the winter transfer window, he said: “At the right time will analyse the final situation and we will decide [what to do with Batshuayi]. There is a transfer [clause], I do not know what the situation is contractually, but for all parties who want to leave, we will look for what is best for Valencia and thus the appropriate decisions will be made.”

Batshuayi joined the Blues from Marseille during the summer of 2016 with the view to competing for the striker’s position alongside Diego Costa. However, the marksman struggled to find success during his maiden season with the club and the same has remained the case thereafter despite the unceremonious departure of Costa from the west London giants.

At present, Morata and Giroud remain the go-to men when it comes to the centre-forward duties but there has been the speculation that Sarri may prefer recruiting another top-class marksman when the transfer window reopens. As such, Batshuayi’s future with the Blues appears bleak regardless of the potential recall and he may have to pursue another temporary challenge elsewhere to enhance his prospects of regular gametime during the second half of the season. Chelsea are currently third in the Premier League table with 34 points after the opening 16 matches.