Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace confirmed the loan signing of Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi on Thursday, with the Belgium international joining until the end of the season.

The club relayed the news of Batshuayi's move from Stamford Bridge.

"This is a fantastic signing for Crystal Palace," chairman Steve Parish said. "Michy is a player we've long admired, and I'm delighted that we've finally managed to get him in a red and blue shirt. He will be a magnificent addition to our squad."

Batshuayi, 25, joined Chelsea from Marseille in July 2016 for £33.1 million. Despite his significant price tag, he has never nailed down a first-team spot at Stamford Bridge.

He does nevertheless boast an impressive minutes-per-goal ratio for Chelsea in the English top flight, as Squawka Football highlighted:

In the second half of last season, he enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, scoring seven goals in 10 Bundesliga appearances before picking up an injury.

Batshuayi was sent out on loan again back in August, this time to Valencia. It did not go as well as his move to Dortmund, though, as the La Liga side terminated the loan in early January after he failed to make much of an impact.

That aside, it seems clear Batshuayi could thrive in the right environment. He has always come up with goals when he has been given opportunities at Chelsea, whether it be in the league or in cup competitions.

Further, he was brilliant in the short time he was fully fit at Dortmund.

The striker will likely be handed a lot more game time at Crystal Palace, and that should allow him to improve and potentially return to Chelsea ready to fight for a first-team place.

As for Palace, they have snapped up a striker of enormous potential with a lot to prove.

The Football Association have opened an investigation after Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey allegedly made a Nazi salute at a club dinner.

The image of the Wales international was captured by team-mate Max Meyer, with the German posting the picture as an Instagram story Saturday.

According to Sky Sports, the FA are looking into the incident after the player denied any wrongdoing.

The 31-year-old made a statement on his Twitter account, stating across two tweets his innocence.

Hennessey wrote:

"Yesterday evening I had a meal with my team mates and we had a group photograph. I waved and shouted at the person taking the picture to get on with it and at the same time put my hand over my mouth to make the sound carry. It’s been brought to my attention that frozen in a moment by the camera this looks like I am making a completely inappropriate type of salute. I can assure everyone I would never ever do that and any resemblance to that kind of gesture is absolutely coincidental. Love and peace Wayne."

Meyer posted the Instagram story after the Eagles defeated Grimsby Town 1-0 in the third round of the FA Cup. The story has since expired, but the image quickly went viral on social media platforms.

Hennessey could now face sanctions as the governing body determines if the act was deliberate.    

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has taken to social media to deny performing a Nazi salute in a team photo.

As the Associated Press reported (h/t ESPN FC), Eagles midfielder Max Meyer posted an Instagram story of the team having dinner, and the image appeared to show Hennessey performing the salute.

The Wales international denied making the gesture, however:

Football writer Daniel Storey shared the image that sparked the controversy:

Meyer's story was posted after the FA Cup win over Grimsby Town―in which the 31-year-old kept a clean sheet―and disappeared automatically after 24 hours.

According to the Mirror's Alex Richards, the goalkeeper could face a club probe following the controversy.

Saturday's start was Hennessey's first for the Eagles since December 8. He began the season as the unquestioned starter, but after conceding three goals in a loss to West Ham United and then suffering a back injury, manager Roy Hodgson opted to go with Spanish goalkeeper Vicente Guaita against Leicester City. The team has lost just a single match since.

Jordan Ayew spared the Eagles' blushes on Saturday, scoring late in the narrow 1-0 win over League Two side Grimsby. The Mariners played the bulk of the contest with 10 men due to an early red card for Andrew Fox.

Palace are currently 14th in the Premier League standings and will face Watford on Saturday in their next outing. Guaita is expected to return to the starting XI, continuing his solid form as the Eagles try to put some more distance between themselves and the relegation zone.