Chelsea Transfer News: Michy Batshuayi Move Considered, Alvaro Morata Rumours

Chelsea are reportedly "considering" making a £31 million move for Olympique de Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi as an alternative target for Juventus forward Alvaro Morata.

According to Darren Lewis of the Mirror, the 22-year-old Belgium international has rejected overtures from West Ham United—he said he "wants to join a bigger club or a club in the Champions League"—while Tottenham Hotspur refuse to meet Marseille's asking price, leaving Chelsea in a strong position should they move for him.

Also, with Manchester United having entered the race for 23-year-old Morata, Chelsea reportedly view Batshuayi "as a possible alternative," per Lewis.

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe recently outlined how Morata could be an ideal fit at Chelsea but also highlighted how desperately short the Blues are in the strike department with incoming head coach Antonio Conte set to play two up front next season:

Diego Costa is the Blues' only reliable and experienced strike option, and it has long been reported that he may want a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, per ESPN FC.

It seems likely that Chelsea will need to buy at least two new top-quality strikers in the upcoming transfer window, and they will need to spend big in order to guarantee quality.

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Real Madrid are set to activate Morata's buyback clause and then sell him on to the highest bidder, and Los Blancos have reportedly set the Spaniard's asking price at €75 million (£59 million), with Juve, United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all interested, per Calciomercato.

The £31 million-rated Batshuayi is a much cheaper option, and Chelsea could even afford to splash out a potential £90 million on the pair if they felt it could help them in the long term.

The west Londoners need more goalscorers, and Batshuayi was fairly prolific last term in Ligue 1, netting 17 goals and providing nine assists—he also netted four UEFA Europa League goals in seven appearances—per WhoScored.com.

He will only improve as he gains more experience, and he has the pace, composure and finishing that could see him thrive in the fast-paced physicality of the Premier League.

The concern from Chelsea's point of view will be his youth, especially if he is brought in alongside Morata.

Both are excellent prospects, but it would be a dangerous move for the Blues to rely on them as their main strikers, but alongside Costa—if he stays—either could be very effective in the long term.