Michy Batshuayi has been in outstanding form for Borussia Dortmund since joining the Bundesliga side from Chelsea in a loan deal worth £1.3 million in the January transfer window. As such, BVB will likely be keen to make the Belgian's stay at the Signal Iduna Park permanent come June.
Dortmund already pushed hard to include a loan-to-buy arrangement last month, but Chelsea had no interest in entertaining any clauses that would allow the German giants to secure the striker permanently.
Chelsea felt the circumstances were not ideal to negotiate a fee that would satisfy their demands, while also refusing to write off Batshuayi altogether just yet.
"We tried our best to get a permanent option for Batshuayi, but it was a no-go for Chelsea. When Roman Abramovich says 'no', it is a 'no'," Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke recently stated.
The 24-year-old joined Chelsea for £33.2m in July 2016 after on-loan attackers Radamel Falcao and Alexandre Pato returned to their parent clubs following unsuccessful spells at Stamford Bridge.
Batshuayi has since failed to win over Antonio Conte, though, making a mere four Premier League starts since his arrival in London before being farmed out on loan to Dortmund.
His lack of regular playing time had seen the striker's value drop - even in the current inflated market - and Chelsea opted to reject BVB's attempts to include an option to buy in the deal, hoping a good spell in the Bundesliga and, potentially, a successful World Cup with Belgium would significantly increase a potential transfer fee.
With Batshuayi netting five times in as many appearances in all competitions since his move to Dortmund, the attacker has justified Chelsea's decision not to settle for an option to buy at a set fee that would likely have been below what they paid for him some 18 months ago.
Chelsea will be hoping the striker will continue to shine in the months to come, strengthening the club’s position in any potential negotiations taking place during the summer transfer window, either with Dortmund or with other interested sides.
Additionally, there is still a belief at director level that Batshuayi could have a future at Chelsea, although much depends on the long-term future of Conte.
Batshuayi would find himself behind the likes of Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud in the pecking order under Conte if he were to return to Chelsea, but that might change if the Italian were to leave the reigning Premier League champions at the end of the season.
The former Juventus and Italy boss' has repeatedly stated that he intends to fulfil his contract at Chelsea, but the club hierarchy might decide different if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
The Blues currently find themselves in fifth position in the Premier League table on 53 points from 28 games, two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.
Chelsea had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie and face a tough task to progress to the final eight when they travel to Camp Nou in March.
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