Free-scoring Batshuayi tough to ignore but Chelsea needs different, not more

Mired in the endless daily reportage that comes with late transfer window buzz, Chelsea's brass watched on as Michy Batshuayi predictably scored a pair of goals in a 3-0 win over Newcastle in FA Cup action.

The Belgian's name has become synonymous with "trade bait" in recent days as Chelsea looks to pawn Batshuayi off in its search of another forward, a wandering eye that inspired in him a desire - and perhaps a final chance - to prove his doubters wrong.

Say what you will of Batshuayi, but he's tough to ignore. The 24-year-old has 10 goals in 24 matches across official competitions this season, a rate of conversion that puts him just two goals behind starting striker Alvaro Morata in 1400 fewer minutes, and ahead of Arsenal starter Alexandre Lacazette.

Pundits will now predictably pontificate the needlessness of Chelsea's striker pursuit - why even look at the likes of Edin Dzeko, who is angling to join out of AS Roma in the next few days, when Batshuayi can find the back of the net regularly? Why even consider West Ham's Andy Carroll - or, more astoundingly, Stoke City's Peter Crouch - when the Belgian is in fine form?

It may sound counter-intuitive, but perhaps Chelsea isn't looking for more goals.

Putting aside Manchester City's ludicrous 70-goal tally in 24 matches, Chelsea isn't an outlier among the Premier League's heavy hitters: Antonio Conte's side has scored 45 goals in league play, relatively similar to Manchester United's 49, Tottenham's 47, Arsenal's 45, and Liverpool's 54. Defensively, Chelsea has conceded 16 goals, joint-fewest in the league. Things are good, on paper.

What Conte needs is a hold-up option. He wants creativity and effectiveness in combinations up top with a player who can bring the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian, or Pedro into the attack at closer proximity, thus freeing his wing-backs to overlap in wider positions. Conte wants a prototypical target centre-forward and all the traits that come with such a striker: strong key pass and possession metrics, as well as a bit of height and physical presence.

Those are traits Batshuayi seems to lack.

Morata, for example, averages 1.1 key passes per 90 minutes to Batshuayi's 0.4. A key pass is defined as a final pass that immediately leads to a shot on goal from a teammate. At Roma, Dzeko averages 1.7 key passes per 90 minutes, Carroll 0.8 at West Ham, and Crouch 1.6 at Stoke.

Batshuayi has recorded just one key pass all season, which came in a 4-0 win over Brighton on Jan. 20. Dzeko, by comparison, crafted three in a 1-1 draw against Sampdoria in Roma's last match. This stat alone tells a specific, though limited story - and it's certainly not the only one that matters. By itself, it doesn't take into consideration differences in overall style of play. But it broadly indicates Dzeko is consistently offering a specific skill that Batshuayi isn't.

Related: How would an old-fashioned target man fit into Conte's Chelsea lineup?

There's a similar pattern in hold-up play: Batshuayi averages 3.4 unsuccessful touches per 90 minutes to Morata's 2.7 and Dzeko's 2.6. Furthermore, the Bosnian stands eight centimetres taller than the Belgian, thus offering more aerial presence and a better target for Chelsea's wide men to aim toward.

Now, the argument could be made that Batshuayi hasn't been afforded the sort of opportunities his peers have. Indeed, when given the chance to start and play at least an hour, the Belgian has found the back of the net in five of 10 total fixtures. But he recorded just a single assist in that time.

There's no denying Batshuayi has a poacher's instinct. But if goals tell a story of a striker worth keeping, the plot at Stamford Bridge demands another tone.

Conte isn't looking for more goals. In his effort to keep pace with teams like City and challenge for the Premier League title once again, Conte needs something - someone - who brings an element of different.

(Photos courtesy: Getty)