Slaven Bilic has hinted that West Ham were keen on Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic has suggested to the club’s official website that he was interested in signing Michy Batshuayi before he chose to join Chelsea.
Bilic’s Hammers have won their last two Premier League games with 1-0 victories over Crystal Palace and Sunderland, but now turn their attention to Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash with Chelsea.
Having scraped past Accrington Stanley with a 1-0 win in the last round, West Ham need to improve markedly on Wednesday, and Bilic may choose to rotate some of his squad.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
It may be a similar approach for Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who saw his Blues side hammer Manchester United 4-0, with a host of fringe players potentially look to start.
The likes of John Terry, Oscar, Ola Aina and Nathaniel Chalobah may be in line to play, whilst striker Michy Batshuayi will be desperate for a start, given that his only starts for the club have come in this competition.
Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi
The Belgian international striker, 23, left Marseille for Chelsea over the summer, and whilst he impressed with some strong cameos early in the season, he has failed to displace Diego Costa as Chelsea’s leading striker.
Chelsea’s decision to barely use Batshuayi has called their decision to even sign him into question, with many other clubs looking to sign him over the summer after he scored 33 goals in 78 appearances for Marseille.
West Ham were searching for a striker all summer, and Sky Sports reported that they offered €35m (£31.3m) for Batshuayi, only to eventually lose out to Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi celebrates scoring against Watford
Now, ahead of Wednesday’s clash, West Ham boss Bilic has been asked by the club’s official website just how serious the interest was, and he hinted that he did want Batshuayi be suggesting any club that could afford him wanted him – but says he isn’t frustrated that the Belgian has barely featured for the Blues so far.
“It’s all stories. He was on a list of many, many clubs because of his achievements with Olympique Marseille. He’s a really good young striker,” said Bilic. “He was the subject of basically all the clubs that could afford him. He opted for Chelsea and that’s it. Ask him [about being frustrated on the bench]! It’s not frustrating for me!” he added.
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