Chelsea races ahead of rivals to close in on Batshuayi

Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi is close to completing a move to Chelsea, according to reports.

The forward, who is at Euro 2016 on international duty with Belgium, is believed to be on the brink of signing a £33.2 million deal to join up with the Premier League club.

Batshuayi has played a bit-part role for Belgium at the European Championship so far, but he scored with his first touch after coming off the bench in the 4-0 last-16 win against Hungary.

With a host of clubs chasing his signature in a big-money deal, Batshuayi looks set to sign for Chelsea in the next few days after being cleared to have a medical for the club.

Chelsea's move for Batshuayi was triggered by an opening bid by Crystal Palace, forcing the fellow London club into action to get their man.

Batshuayi will compete with Diego Costa for a striking role at Chelsea, with new coach Antonio Conte putting his mark on the squad despite still being at Euro 2016 with Italy.

Batshuayi's record

Although Marseille had a very poor season - they were in danger of relegation from Ligue 1 until the last few weeks of the season - Batshuayi was one of the top scorers in the French league.

He hit 17 goals from 32 league starts, a record of greater than one goal in every two games, to make the top clubs in Europe sit up and take notice.

According to WhoScored, no player has scored more goals from the bench in Europe's top 5 leagues in the last two seasons than Batshuayi, so he could play a supersub role.

Tottenham were also reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old, who ended the league season with a run of four goals in four matches.

But it seems as though Chelsea are set to get their man and the transfer could even be announced before Batshuayi and Belgium play their Euro 2016 quarter-final against Wales.

Chelsea's forward options

Batshuayi joins a club in transition, with Conte arriving to take over at Stamford Bridge at the end of Euro 2016, replacing the interim coach Guus Hiddink, who succeeded sacked Jose Mourinho.

Costa had a tough season last time out but improved in the second half of the campaign, but a return to Atletico Madrid has been mooted for the striker, while Loic Remy has been linked with various clubs across Europe.

Radamel Falcao has gone back to Monaco after making minimal impact in the Premier League and Alexandre Pato has returned to Corinthians after he also had an unsuccessful loan spell at Stamford Bridge last season.

Pato's agent believes a permanent move to Chelsea is still a possibility for his client, but the club is aiming to bring in Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, who spent the last two years at Juventus, the former club of Conte.

Batshuayi's pace, strength and mobility would make him highly suitable for Chelsea's lone striker role, with the forward expected to bring others into play as well as acting as a goal threat.

The attacker has hit 33 goals in 78 appearances for Marseille, but a move now seems inevitable. Batshuayi has even followed Chelsea on Twitter, so an announcement could well be imminent.