West Ham United have been linked with a fresh bid for longstanding striker target Michy Batshuayi, and he has been discussing his Chelsea future.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte barely used Michy Batshuayi last season
Belgian youngster Batshuayi was barely used by Blues boss Antonio Conte last season and has been linked with both loan and permanent moves to the London Stadium.
Batshuayi actually snubbed the Hammers for Chelsea last summer which left Slaven Bilic without a top class striker after the Hammers had a £30m bid accepted by Marseille.
Despite his late flurry of goals in the last couple of games of the season – which included the strike which sealed Chelsea the title – Batshuayi looks set to fall even further down the pecking order with Blues boss Antonio Conte reportedly targeting the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata.
Bilic has publicly declared he is looking for up to four “game-changer” signings this summer in a bid to make the Hammers serious contenders for European football next season.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
According to the likes of The Sun West Ham have made the 23-year-old their number one target.
But the striker himself appears to have ruled out leaving the Blues – for the timebeing at least – after hitting out at comments attributed to him which suggested he is seeking pastures new.
Earlier this week, Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad claimed an interview with Batshuayi where he reportedly said: “Honestly, I’m not trying to think too much (about my future). It will be up to the board and the coach to decide. I’m the player, I go where Chelsea send me.”
But the striker, who is current enjoying a holiday abroad, took to Twitter to dispel the comments, insisting he did not take part in the interview.
Batshuayi celebrates
“Sorry but I never had this interview lol, I’ve been chilling on a jet ski for three days,” Batshuayi said on Twitter.
While the former Marseille man stops short of confirming or denying whether he wants to remain at Stamford Bridge, the fact he has taken umbrage to reports linking him with a move could be telling.
Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho is another Hammers target
If that is the case it will be another blow for Bilic and the club who have consistently failed to land their top targets in the last year.
Whether West Ham fans even want Batshuayi at the club after he snubbed them last year is another matter, particularly with many preferring a move for Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho instead.
The Nigerian has been heavily linked with a move to East London but there has been no update on the deal’s progress for over a week.
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