Chelsea are poised to sell Belgian flop Michy Batshuayi this summer, after just one season.
The striker signed from French side Marseille last summer for £33million has failed to impress new boss Antonio Conte, and has not made a single start for the Blues in the Premier League.
Batshuayi was also targeted by West Ham in their ongoing search for a striker and an agreement had been reached with Marseille before Chelsea swooped at the last minute to hijack the deal.
While the 23-year-old Belgium international would surely have been a regular in the Hammers team this season, he has been a bit-part player in their London rivals’ Premier League title charge.
Batshuayi has even been left on the bench even when the Blues’ star striker Diego Costa has been out injured.
He has not played since a late three minutes in the 1-1 draw at Burnley on February 12.
In the subsequent matches, he was an unused substitute in the FA Cup sixth round and remained on the bench for the Premier League win at home to Swansea.
Chelsea hope to hold on to Costa at the end of the season despite interest from Chinese club Tianjin Quinjan, but they to bring in another striker whatever happens.
Prolific Torino frontman Andrea Belotti has been watched, while Conte is an admirer of Swansea’s Fernando Llorente — who scored against his side at Stamford Bridge last Saturday.
The contract situation of Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez is also being monitored.
Chelsea among a number of clubs ready to register their interest if the Chilean – who will have a year left on his current deal in the summer – continues to refuse to sign a new pact.
Conte is also ready to re-integrate young Tammy Abraham, who has scored 18 goals on loan at Championship side Bristol City this season, into the squad for the 2017-18 campaign.
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