West Ham opinion: The Hammers should go for Michy Batshuayi

Back in January, the Daily Mail claimed that West Ham were one of the clubs interested in signing Michy Batshuayi on loan from Chelsea. However, the Belgian striker ended up moving to Crystal Palace on loan until the end of the season in the eleventh hour of the January transfer window.

Michy Batshuayi, 25, enjoyed a good loan spell at Selhurst Park, scoring five goals in 11 games and helping Crystal Palace to a 12-placed finish.

His loan spell in the first half of the 2018/19 campaign at Valencia turned out to be an ordinary one, managing just one goal in 15 La Liga games at the Mestalla Stadium.

Chelsea are facing a two-window transfer ban this summer so they’ll look to hold on to as many players as they can to compete on all fronts next term.

But Batshuayi, at the age of 25, will need to find a permanent home, where he’ll get regular opportunities to play and develop, having not been given enough chances at Stamford Bridge by former managers Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri.

That being said, West Ham must rekindle their interest in Batshuayi and attempt to sign him from Chelsea this summer.

The Hammers have already signed three players in the ongoing summer transfer window, as Manuel Pellegrini aims to achieve a top-six finish next season.

After adding two goalkeepers and a creative player to his ranks, Pellegrini should shift his focus towards bringing in a clinical centre-forward.

The East Londoners have released Andy Carroll and sold Lucas Perez to Spanish club Alaves. Javier Hernandez is seeking a move away from the London Stadium this summer, which means Pellegrini could be left with just Marko Arnautovic, as far as strikers are concerned.

West Ham struggled for goals last term and the Chilean manager should fix that problem this summer itself. Arnautovic needs more competition and support up front and a player like Michy Batshuayi would just be ideal for Pellegrini’s side.

Batshuayi is a clinical finisher, who is comfortable in the air and with the ball at his feet. He is physically very strong, fantastic at winning aerial duels and outmuscling defenders in the box to score goals.

The Belgium international also possesses a great turn of pace which allows him to go past defenders without much fuss.

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The ex-Marseille ace uses his strength to fend off players and holds the ball up to allow other forwards to run beyond him, which makes him suitable for Pellegrini’s style at West Ham. Batshuayi is a solid centre-forward who would add some serious depth to Pellegrini’s ranks as well.

Verdict

Batshuayi needs a fresh start in his career and signing him would be the perfect way for West Ham to bring in a genuine competitor for Marko Arnautovic next term.