Chelsea reportedly won’t let Michy Batshuayi leave until they find a replacement.
Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League
According to The Mirror, Chelsea won’t be allowing Michy Batshuayi to leave the club until they ensure that they have a replacement signed – and that should impact West Ham’s pursuit of the player.
Batshuayi was a big-money signing for Chelsea last summer after smashing 33 goals in 78 games for Marseille, but he ultimately struggled to displace Diego Costa in the Chelsea side.
Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi shoots at goal as Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier look on
Whilst the Belgian hit four goals in the final three league games of the season, Batshuayi was given just 239 minutes of Premier League action over the course of the campaign, and started just seven games in all competitions.
Batshuayi told The Guardian on Wednesday that he cannot accept another season on the bench, but The Mirror claim that Chelsea won’t let him leave the club until they sign a replacement.
Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi in action with Peterborough’s Ryan Tafazolli
Whilst Romelu Lukaku is being targeted, he may actually prove to be a replacement for Diego Costa, which would leave Chelsea seeking another striker – and leave clubs like West Ham, who are allegedly pursuing Batshuayi’s signature, on hold.
Batshuayi would certainly be a huge addition to this West Ham side given that they are in desperate need of a striker, but they must be careful about how long they wait for Chelsea to decide Batshuayi’s future.
Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi in action with Everton’s Ashley Williams
The Hammers spent most of last summer searching for strikers, but ended up having to settle for Jonathan Calleri and Simone Zaza on loan deals in August, just weeks before the transfer deadline – and neither player enjoyed success in East London.
West Ham can’t afford to make the same mistakes again, leaving their business late, as if Chelsea end up deciding they need to keep Batshuayi, then West Ham could again be shopping for players of the calibre of Calleri and Zaza rather than Batshuayi, with a top striker needed this summer, preferably sooner rather than later.
Would you like to see West Ham hold on for Batshuayi?
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