Michy Batshuayi has stated that he cannot afford another season on the Chelsea bench and he needs to earn more game time.
The 23-year-old striker made a £33million move to Stamford Bridge last summer from French side Marseille but he struggled to earn regular minutes on the pitch under Antonio Conte.
The Italian, who was also in his first season at Chelsea, won the Premier League title with the London club by recording 30 wins from their 38 matches.
However, his big-money signing only started one Premier League match, with Diego Costa playing up front and helping his team to the English crown.
The forthcoming campaign will be significant to a lot of footballers because a top quality season could see them represent their country at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, a tournament Batshuayi wants to take part in.
The Belgium international issued this response when asked if he is willing to spend another season on the bench at Chelsea.
“No, no, no. Everyone knows that I have to play more, that I have to score goals,” said Batshuayi, as quoted by the Times. “There’s a World Cup coming up next year. I want to be ready for the World Cup.
“I’m not going to ask anything. I’m going to listen to what they are saying. They are the boss, not me. And afterwards, I’ll discuss it with my agent and the club. Amicably, as friends of course.
“A loan? That’s not up to me. That’s up to them (Chelsea). They take the decisions, not me.”
Over the course of the campaign, Batshuayi played 28 matches in all competitions, scoring nine goals, including finding the back of the net on four occasions during his last three league matches.
Batshuayi did play five FA Cup matches for his side, including the semi-final win against Tottenham, but he was selected to start from the bench as Arsenal went on to win the final at Wembley.