Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi is reportedly a target for Everton.
Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea attempts to get past Granit Xhaka of Arsenal (L) and Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal (R)
According to a report from Foot Mercato, Everton are interested in a deadline day deal for Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, having been priced out of a deal for team-mate Diego Costa.
The Toffees have been splashing the cash on new signings this summer, as Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Davy Klaassen, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Rooney and Sandro Ramirez have all arrived at Goodison Park.
However, Ronald Koeman’s men still enter deadline day in need of additions, with a new centre forward certainly needed after selling Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United in a big-money deal earlier this summer.
A host of striker have been touted with moves to Goodison Park, but Foot Mercato now report that Everton are turning their attention to Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi, after failing with a move for Diego Costa.
It’s claimed that Everton had hoped to take wantaway Costa on loan, but his huge wages mean that a deal is unlikely – and Batshuayi is wanted instead as the Toffees switch their focus to another Chelsea striker.
Batshuayi, 23, joined Chelsea in a huge deal from Marseille last summer, having hit 33 goals in 78 games for the French side, but he struggled for playing time behind Costa last season, notching nine goals in 28 appearances under Antonio Conte.
The Belgian may have seen Costa fall out with Conte, but the Blues then moved to sign Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, meaning that Batshuayi remains second choice at Stamford Bridge.
Everton could now move to offer Batshuayi first-team football as a replacement for his Belgium international team-mate Lukaku, in what would surely be a big-money deal on the final day of the transfer window.
Koeman’s men may well be given hope as Spanish newspaper AS report that Chelsea want Fernando Llorente, which could either push Batshuayi down the pecking order or even out of the club, and in that instance, a move may well suit all parties.
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