Andy Carroll waiting on dream transfer to Chelsea and Michy Batshuayi to West Ham would help sweeten deal
Andy Carroll is waiting for Chelsea to follow up their interest in what would be a dream move for the striker.
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan and manager David Moyes insisted this morning there had not been any contact between the clubs and the ball is now firmly in Chelsea’s court to make a move for Carroll, who is wanted as cover for Alvaro Morata.
The West Ham board have grown impatient by the lengthening list of injuries which have limited Carroll’s appearances and are ready to do business at the right price. The Hammers will want around £20million although Chelsea are looking to pay less, having already failed with a loan move for the player.
However, Moyes is less certain about selling the 29-year-old this month. With his physicality and aerial ability, the front man provides a different option to the club’s other strikers and replacing him would not be straightforward.
Carroll remains open to the possibility of a move across London. The attraction of playing for last season’s title winners is considerable, as is the prospect of Champions League football.With his considerable injury problems - he missed last night’s FA Cup replay against Shrewsbury and has played only 86 League matches since signing from Liverpool in July 2013 for £15million - it would perhaps suit both Carroll and Chelsea if he was used sparingly and as cover for Morata.
Geographically the move would also be reasonably seamless since he would not be required to uproot his family.
Moyes was expecting that only one of his strikers - Diafra Sakho - would move this month but now it looks possible more will depart since the immediate futures of Javier Hernandez and Andre Ayew are also uncertain.Ayew has not featured regularly under Slaven Bilic or Moyes and was substituted against Shrewsbury last night, while Hernandez has failed to impress following his £16m summer move from Bayer Leverkusen and has been linked with Los Angeles FC and Besiktas.
A partial exchange deal involving Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi moving to West Ham would be one way to get a deal for Carroll through but it is understood Batshuayi has set his sights on joining Spanish club Sevilla.
The 24-year-old has started just three Premier League games for the club and wants a loan move in order to secure a place in Belgium’s World Cup squad.Sevilla have already provisionally agreed to pay a £1.3m loan fee with Chelsea as well as a large cut of his £70,000‑a-week wages. He will not be allowed to leave though until the Blues secure a replacement.
The situation could be further complicated by Borussia Dortmund, who will consider turning to Batshuayi if they cannot persuade Arsenal to part with Olivier Giroud in a player-plus cash deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Standard Sport revealed on Tuesday that the Bundesliga club are hoping to receive £35m plus Giroud for Aubameyang.
Chelsea still hold out a hope that West Ham might change their mind and consider loaning them Carroll.
In the interim, though, the club are continuing to make inquiries for other forwards elsewhere, including Red Star Belgrade star Richmond Boakye, who has scored 23 goals this term.
Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke is another player they are looking at even though he has struggled this season scoring only once in 17 Premier League appearances.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/andy-carroll-waiting-on-dream-transfer-to-chelsea-and-michy-batshuayi-to-west-ham-would-help-sweeten-a3742406.html
