OPINION
West Ham have been heavily linked with the capture of a new striker in January – much of that to do with the speculation over Marko Arnautovic’s future – and while there might not be anyone through the door yet it seems the club are not willing to give up.
Thursday, which is deadline day in England, saw the Hammers linked with a raid at London rivals Chelsea, the broadcaster claiming via Kaveh Solhekol that there had actually been an agreement in principle over a move to the Irons and that it was down to the player to decide whether to make that switch.
As the deadline edged ever closer it became clear that Batshuayi would not be joining the squad at the London Stadium as Solhekol revealed the extraordinary demands on the table from the Belgian hitman.
The Sky reporter told Sky Sports News on deadline day: “He’s trying to move on loan again – we told you West Ham had agreed a loan deal in principle but I don’t think he’s going to be going to West Ham.
“Just to give you an idea of some of the numbers involved in these loan deals, I’ve been told in the last 10 minutes that Michy Batshuayi is looking for £160,000-a-week in wages to move on loan.”
Those sort of wages are just mind-boggling for a man who has struggled to make a name for himself in recent years, loan spells at Borussia Dortmund and Valencia failing to show him in a positive light.
The Irons might well have been keen on securing a striker but those numbers are above and beyond what anyone should be paying for his capture and Manuel Pellegrini’s men look to have avoided a huge bullet.
They might not be bringing the striker in but considering the money he would have cost that looks to be for the best.