West Ham Apparently Have Yet to Bid for Tottenham Target

West Ham United manager, Slaven Bilić, has denied that his club have made a £31.5 million bid for Tottenham Hotspur target, Michy Batshuayi ahead of the summer transfer window.

It was only just yesterday that a huge transfer rumor was happening with West Ham acting swiftly to secure a striker ahead of next season and before the transfer window opened.

The striker in question, was none other than Belgian international, Michy Batshuayi, who is currently on Tottenham and Juventus’ radars as well.

At the age of 22 and having scored 16 goals in Ligue 1 and 21 in all competitions this season, Batshuayi has been making waves as one of the next promising center forwards in Europe with Olympique Marseille most likely asking for a hefty fee.

Just not as much as the Hammers had apparently bid yesterday, which was £31.5 million, even though his current value is at least around Saido Berahino’s for starters (£25 million).

Marseille’s Belgian forward Michy Batshuayi (L) vies with Toulouse’s goalkeeper Alban Lafont (R) during the French L1 football match between Marseille and Toulouse on March 6, 2016 at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, southern France. AFP PHOTO / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT (Photo credit should read ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images) /

According to the London Evening Standard, Slaven Bilić, has only maintained his interest in the Belgian forward because of what he has done this term.

But that doesn’t mean West Ham won’t send out an offer anytime soon if and when, Spurs and Juventus take action. Even if the Croatian manager has said otherwise.

“Batshuayi is a top striker who plays for a big club, scoring goals there,” Bilić told reporters. “He’s been playing at top level for a few years. He’s a very good player.”

“But that’s all I can say at this moment. It is simply not true that we have made a bid.”

Whether the Hammers sent out a bid or not is irrelevant at this point.

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Because it’s quite obvious that West Ham would want additionally fire power after Dimitri Payet is the only player — as of this moment — to reach double figures in goals scored in all competitions.

It’s essentially the same situation that Tottenham are in right now, where Harry Kane has scored 20-plus goals two seasons in a row, but need another striker because Spurs have been lucky with Kane not suffering a major injury yet.

A broken nose this season doesn’t count since the England international didn’t miss any games, because he wore a protective mask instead. But eventually a backup, or another starter, is a must for next year.

Other than that, Slaven Bilić has reiterated that Michy Batshuayi is a player of interest, but was quick to point out that players who will be signed have to be better than the current squad he has at his disposal.

“We have a good team. But if we’re going to buy, they have to be better than [the players] we have. It’s not easy to find.” Bilić continued.

“On the other hand, a good season, the Olympic Stadium, West Ham are growing as a club. Many players who were not on our list last year seem to be very keen on coming, or are at least considering us as an option.”

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The only good news that has come out of this report by the London Evening Standard is that Michy Batshuayi is still available and Tottenham doesn’t have to match a high price of £31.5 million, even if Champions League football and a new TV deal will give them more money to spend on.

At the rate of how Premier League clubs tend to overspend for talented footballers nowadays, very good strikers will cost around £30 million eventually.

But until then, Tottenham can breathe a sigh of relief until West Ham, Juventus, or any other club interested in Batshuayi, completely messes things up by sending a huge bid and overpaying.