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A Chelsea outcast could yet be joining a Turkish Super Lig side this summer despite a move to Trabzonspor falling through in the past few days, according to a report.

Thomas Tuchel is faced with a tricky task for the remainder of the transfer window. It’s not surrounding who he needs to bring into his Chelsea squad, though. Instead, it concerns cutting down his first-team roster which currently stands at 42 players.

Midfielders Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater are two names that were reported to be on the offload list.

And joining them on the supposed chopping block was striker Michy Batshuayi, who has for a long time also been on the periphery at Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian has spent the vast majority of the last four seasons out on loan. This update therefore comes as no surprise.

Tranzonspor were said to be looking to take the 27-year-old on loan. However, this prospective deal has since collapsed.

One of their league rivals have now emerged as favourites to sign Batshuayi, according to Foot Mercato.

The French outlet have claimed Besiktas have made him their main target. Indeed, they are said to have initiated talks.

Negotiations are apparently underway between the necessary parties. The report says sources close to the Turkish side have indicated the ‘case is on the right track’.

Batshuayi will no doubt be hopeful a deal can be struck with first-team football proving to be hard to come by in recent years.

Without a move away, his place in the Belgium squad could be in jeopardy. And with the World Cup not far around the corner, this would be a major concern.

Chelsea’s attacking options have already been transformed this summer. Olivier Giroud has left for AC Milan, whilst Tammy Abraham is nearing a departure.

And of course the Blues have made the giant acquisition of Romelu Lukaku, Batshuayi’s national side teammate.

Chelsea explored Lukaku alternative

Reports have claimed the club rejected the chance to sign Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski before sealing a mega-bucks deal for Lukaku.

Tuchel was looking for a proven goalscorer ahead of Chelsea’s assault on Premier League glory by paying Inter Milan £97.5m, he has got one.

However, it has emerged that Tuchel had the option to bring Poland international Lewandowski to the capital. BILD journalist Christian Falk (via Goal), claims that the veteran’s agent Pini Zahavi touted the Pole to Chelsea.

But the Bavarians wanted €80m for the 32-year-old and the Blues were unwilling to play ball on those numbers. It would have been tempting for Tuchel as the former Borussia Dortmund star’s goal return is phenomenal.

He has bagged 486 in 698 appearances in all competitions throughout his career. And with Bayern, the man with 69 international goals has 294 in 329 outings.

Despite being the wrong side of 30, the Warsaw-born ace has shown no sigs of slowing down. He hit an incredible 41 Bundesliga goals from 209 appearances in 2020-2021 – his best ever season tally.

READ MORE: Chelsea, Man Utd sit up as report claims sensation ‘dreaming’ of Prem

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