West Ham and Tottenham target Michy Batshuayi could be headed for South London after Marseille accepted a €38million bid from Crystal Palace, according to L’Equipe.
West Ham have kept their bid below Marseille’s asking price of £32.5million, offering £28.5million instead. The Hammers have reportedly tried to sweeten the deal by offering £4million in add-ons.
Cash-strapped Marseille are in need of £20million by July 5 to balance their books, or else they face transfer restrictions from the DNCG. The 22-year-old’s former club, Standard Liege, will receive 35% of the transfer fee agreed. Crystal Palace’s €38million bid comes in just below that asking price, but the urgency of the situation led Marseille to accept the offer.
Batshuayi scored on his first touch off of the bench for Belgium in their 4-0 victory over Hungary in the Euro Cup yesterday. The instinct to find space in the box is exactly what Premier League sides like West Ham and Crystal Palace are looking for.
Batshuayi is reportedly keen on a move to the Premier League, but was holding out for Tottenham and Champions League football. However, the Spurs are unwilling to match Marseille’s asking price. It left West Ham as the only option, until Crystal Palace approached the striker.
If West Ham want to sign Batshuayi, the Hammers will need to match Crystal Palace’s offer. West Ham have been linked with a slew of attacking options this summer, from Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette to Milan’s Carlos Bacca.
