West Ham linked with Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi in complicated deal
By Adam Smith
West Ham have yet again been linked with Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi as the transfer window rapidly approaches. This iteration of the deal, however, is much more complicated and less likely than ever before.
The reason this deal seems unlikely is that it relies on three teams all communicating effectively and getting what they want from the situation:
West Ham get Batshuayi from Valencia -> Valencia get Chicharito from West Ham -> Chelsea continue to have an insane amount of loaned out players.
Batshuayi is currently on loan in LaLiga with Valencia after an extremely successful loan spell at Borussia Dortmund of the Bundesliga. He has appeared in 21 matches in all competitions this season but has only started nine games. To match that unimpressive starting record, Batshuayi only has three goals to his name so far this season.
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Chicharito has battled fitness all season long which has prevented him from any sort of regular action in Manuel Pellegrini’s team. After an impressive and extended run with Mexico in the World Cup, Chicharito returned to his club team late and with not much of a preseason. He then contracted glandular fever which caused him to miss four matches, before picking up a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Burnley match.
Despite these injury issues Chicharito has looked good when he has played in recent matches. He has boosted his goal total to 5 goals in 15 matches, adding in three assists as well. With West Ham playing in a dual-striker system now, Chicharito is finally getting a chance to do what he does best, clean up in the box with a striker partner.
The deal would be one that would see a swap for youth and potential over tried and true veteran skill. Surely Batshuayi has more to give for more years than Chicharito, but will that ever amount to more than what we KNOW Hernandez can do on a week-to-week basis?
West Ham reporter and writer Sam Inkersole has confirmed that Pellegrini is not allowing any first-team players to leave on loan in January, killing off this deal before it could even happen. Valencia are far from a poor team but with their team set, loanees are the deals they are in search of, much like West Ham are, so the search for loans is well warranted, however, the target is a bit off.
West Ham, who seem to get along quite well with Chelsea’s administration, could force the Blues to return Batshuayi from his unsuccessful season at Valencia in an effort to bring him in on a loan at West Ham. This would make more sense for the Hammers as they cut out the third party and keep their first team striker as well.
West Ham end 2018 with a whimper in 2-0 loss to Burnley. dark. Next
The deal seems extremely unlikely as it has been drawn up with Chicharito moving out on loan and Batshuayi swapping Valencia for West Ham. Sure, it would be great to get Michy into East London but this is a move that should be revisited in the summer when prices aren’t as inflated and teams can evaluate entire seasons of play.
That being said, can we interest you in Lucas Perez, Valencia?