Chelsea ready to send striker out on loan?

Chelsea are prepared to send Michy Batshuayi out on loan after committing him to a new contract, The Sun reports.

The Belgian's current deal expires at the end of the 2020/21 season, but the Blues are yet to receive any suitable offers for his permanent sale.

Hence, they appear keen on extending his contract for at least another year and are willing to increase his salary from £100,000 to £115,000-a-week.

It is added that he could thereafter head out on a season-long loan with interest from the likes of Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion.

Batshuayi started the previous campaign as the second-choice striker behind Tammy Abraham, but he soon fell down the pecking order with Olivier Giroud favoured ahead of him.

With the arrival of Timo Werner, he is basically the fourth-choice marksman in the squad, and his chances of regular first-team football appear unlikely unless he makes the switch elsewhere.

Batshuayi has made only 48 league appearances for the Blues since his arrival from Marseille four years ago. He has already spent time on loan with Crystal Palace, Valencia and Borussia Dortmund.