According to reports from The Express on Monday, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are set to battle it out for Marseille forward Michy Batshuayi when the transfer window reopens in January.
What’s the word?
Having both failed to add to their forward lines during the summer, The Express claim the north London duo could launch rival bids for Marseille’s prodigious striker Michy Batshuayi in January, following the revelation that a series of unnamed Premier League clubs tried to prize him away from Stade Velodrome during the offseason.
How good is he?
Well, the 21 year-old has never really looked back since making his senior debut for Standard Liege in 2011. He left the Belgian outfit for Marseille with a return of 40 goals in 95 league appearances and has transitioned that superlative form to Ligue 1, notching up twelve goals in 31 outings – including three goals (and two assists) already this season.
Success and popularity of Belgium internationals in the Premier League
That impressive form earned Batshuayi a senior debut for Belgium in March, despite facing rather formidable competition for a striking slot from the likes of Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku and Divock Origi.
In comparison to Benteke and Lukaku, the 5 foot 11 prospect is a quicker and leaner forward, but he’s also decent in the air. Belgium internationals have really made their mark on the Premier League in recent years and some tip Batshuayi as the next in line to do so.
Do Arsenal or Spurs really need him?
The Premier League’s goals for column suggests they certainly need more options in attack. Arsenal have managed just five goals so far this season whilst Tottenham are one behind with four, the sixth and seventh-worst returns in the Premier League respectively.
Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud both scored for the Gunners against Stoke City last weekend but a superior front-man could’ve claimed a hat-trick with the number of chances Arsenal created – which pretty much sums up Arsenal’s striker situation over the last few years.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have placed all their goal-scoring eggs in one Harry Kane-shaped basket, but the England international is still yet to get off the mark in the Premier League. Many expect him to return to last season’s form sooner rather than later, but the 21 year-old’s stuttered start to the campaign highlights the need for a viable understudy.
Anybody else interested and what kind of price?
This is by no means Batshuayi’s first mentioning in the Premier League’s rumour columns. As aforementioned, a number of unnamed Premier League clubs allegedly launched bids for him during the summer, none of which met Marseille’s £22million valuation.
Along with Arsenal and Spurs, former Standard Leige owner Roland Duchatelet, perhaps better known in England for residing over Charlton Athletic, alleged Benfica had shown an interest in the striker during his spell in the Jupiler League, whilst Everton and AC Milan were also linked prior to his Marseille move last summer.
How reliable is the story?
Well, The Express source French publication L’Equipe and rather interestingly, The Daily Star have come up with a different interpretation of the same report – one that This Is Futbol reported on earlier this week.
Although they insinuate in the closing paragraph that Arsenal or Spurs could turn to Batshuayi in January, the article focuses predominantly on the fact Marseille rejected bids for him in the summer. Perhaps The Star’s translators have missed a trick, but it seems more likely that The Express are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill by attaching importance to a throwaway statement.
Likewise, Roland Duchatelet claimed Tottenham weren’t interested in signing the Belgian ahead summer 2014, so deciding to now pay £22million for him would constitute a rather costly oversight on their part.
That being said, stranger things have happened in the world of football and Batshuayi is certainly one of Europe’s emerging talents. Although the January bid claims are pure speculation, both north London clubs will be aware of the progress Batshuayi’s shown in Ligue 1.
Also in the news:
Liverpool star linked with stunning £21m Barcelona move
Revealed: How poor timing cost Man United £6.5m this summer
Man United hope to beat Chelsea and City to England prodigy with £1m bid
Man United could arrest Shaw absence with £4m bid for Leeds prodigy
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