According to a recent report by The Daily Express, West Ham United are tempted by the possibility of cashing in on Sebastien Haller so that they could potentially fund a move for Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi this summer. The same source has also mentioned that the Hammers are hoping to cut costs and might be considering selling their French striker just a year after he moved to the London Stadium. It is understood that West Ham boss David Moyes is weighing up his options and could make a move for £40m-rated Batshuayi when the transfer window reopens later this year.
Batshuayi’s Lack Of Game Time At Stamford Bridge This Season
The Belgian striker has endured a frustrating campaign under the stewardship of Frank Lampard as he has only been a sporadic presence in the Blues’ first-team. He has often come off the bench to make an impact as a substitute for Chelsea which has hampered his progress in England.
Batshuayi has been involved in 24 matches for the west London giants this term, registering six goals and two assists in all competitions which showcases his decent performances despite struggling to earn enough playing time for Lampard’s senior side. The 26-year-old has averaged 0.9 shots, 0.2 key passes and 0.3 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season.
His stats are not the true reflection of his qualities as a striker since he had only started in one of his 16 league appearances so far before the football world came to a standstill as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Batshuayi has a decent goal-scoring record for the Belgian national team, after scoring 16 goals in 29 international fixtures for his country thus far. Maybe a change of scenery could help the former Standard Liege frontman to earn a place in Roberto Martinez’s squad for next year’s UEFA European Championship finals.
What Does The Belgian International Bring To The Table?
Batshuayi can use his quickness and power to make some penetrative runs with the ball in behind the opposition backline. He can get into some promising positions in the final third and is also a composed finisher in front of the opposition goal. The Belgian packs a lot of venom with his strikes, and can use his upper-body strength to overpower his marker in and around the opposition penalty box. However, he is in dire need of regular game time if he intends to break into the world-class bracket in the coming seasons.
Offloading Haller To Recruit Batshuayi: Wise Move For The Hammers?
There is no hiding from the fact that Haller has been quite underwhelming since his high-profile switch to the London Stadium from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. He has only scored seven goals in 29 appearances for the Hammers so far, and his inconsistent performances have left a lot to be desired. Therefore, David Moyes could consider cashing in on him as he cannot afford to retain Haller and have him experience another substandard season in the Premier League.
However, Batshuayi might not be the best alternative to Haller as he has also been guilty of putting in a lot of inconsistent performances even when he has started in the English top-flight in recent seasons. All in all, Moyes will be taking a huge risk if he recruits Batshuayi to replace Haller this summer. The Hammers head coach should instead focus on signing someone more reliable and prolific than Batshuayi if he decides to part ways with Haller in this off-season.
