Hammers refuse to deny striker reports

Batshuyi – looking for Champions League football

West Ham were this afternoon refusing to deny stories in the national media that they are ready to break the bank to bring Michy Batshuayi to the club.

The Guardian reported earlier that the Irons has bid €40m for the Belgian striker who is attracting interest right across Europe.

Usually the Hammers are quick to deny interest when stories such as this emerge but ClaretandHugh was told today it was impossible to discuss the rumours.

We asked our senior source directly on both Batshuayi and Alexandre Lacazette but were simply told: “We have a list but it is impossible to be specific as it impacts on negotiations.”

However, he added: “We are negotiating on several fronts.”

The earlier reports suggested the Irons have now returned with a firm offer which would smash their club transfer record but must now wait to hear whether it will be accepted.

Batshuayi claimed last week he wanted to stay in France but Marseille are understood to be keen to sell the striker they bought for just £4.8m from Standard Liège in 2014 with chairwoman Margarita Louis-Dreyfus having put the club up for sale last month.

Any deal is likely to be concluded before the end of the month with the player hoping to be selected in coach Marc Wilmots’ Belgium squad for Euro 2016 next week.

The lack of a denial in these sort of circumstances is always interesting and clearly suggests that negotiations could be reaching critical points with boss Slaven Bilic claiming last week he would love to get everything done by the time the window opens.