West Ham enter the frame for Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi
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Having tried and failed to bring back Jermain Defoe, West Ham’s search for a striker has since moved on to Scott Hogan, and now to Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi.
The striker seems set to spend the remainder of the season away from Stamford Bridge, having failed to impress since his £33m move from Marseille in the summer.
But while it appeared as though a straight swap with Swansea and Fernando Llorente was all but done, West Ham have emerged on the scene.
A number of reports have linked the Hammers with the Belgian, as has journalist Guillem Balague.
This is been WORKED ON, not CONFIRMED!!!! Batshuayi to West Ham, Antonio could move to CFC. Llorente too + Ulloa 2 replace him #letssee
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) January 10, 2017
The east Londoners were ready to splurge £31m on Batshuayi in the summer, but having turned them down for Chelsea just six months ago, it appears he may end up in claret and blue after all.
This could have plenty of repercussions up and down the Premier League.
Michail Antonio has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, so it remains to be seen if he becomes part of any Batshuayi deal.
And that could see Swansea lose out too, for it seems unlikely they will keep Llorente beyond the season, especially if it ends in relegation.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte signed Llorente for Juventus back in 2013.
The pair worked well together in Turin and a move for the Spaniard remains on the cards, even if Batshuayi goes to West Ham.
For whoever does lose out here, Leicester’s Leonardo Ulloa could be the answer.
The 30-year-old may have turned out in six different competitions for the reigning Premier League champions this season, but from 19 appearances Ulloa is averaging only 25 minutes of game time.
There are a number of potential scenarios which could play out over the coming weeks, but it seems more or less certain now is that Batshuayi is heading out on loan, but where?
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
