Crystal Palace are waiting for a green light from Chelsea to sign Michy Batshuayi on-loan this month.

Palace manager Roy Hodgson wants the exciting Belgian to return to Selhurst Park for the rest of this campaign in a repeat of his move last season.

The Sun says Palace hope the fact they have history with the hitman will give them an advantage — because Aston Villa have also sent out an SOS for him.

Palace are not in the market to buy 26-year-old Batshuayi because of his £40million valuation but they would pay a rental fee on top of his wages.

The deal hinges on Stamford Bridge boss Frank Lampard signing a new striker, with the Chelsea transfer chiefs due to close in on targets after a summit next week.

Hodgson is willing to wait as Palace are getting no encouragement in a move for first-choice target Odsonne Edouard at Celtic.