Chelsea boss Graham Potter has moved for a star who admits having talks with West Ham and Newcastle amid Benoit Badiashile claims.
The January transfer window is now just a week away and for Premier League rivals West Ham, Newcastle United and Chelsea there are very different reasons why they may need to dip into the winter market.
Potter has not been able to wave a magic wand at Stamford Bridge so far with Chelsea down in eighth place. Given the sudden nature of his arrival after the surprise sacking of Thomas Tuchel, Potter is going to want to bring his own players to the club.
Like Chelsea, West Ham spent big in the summer – splashing £170m on eight signings but are struggling just one point off the bottom three.
Newcastle are having a superb season under Eddie Howe, currently sitting pretty in third place off the back of some very shrewd signings.
West Ham and Newcastle have been linked with mutual interest in a host of players since the Magpies were taken over.
And that was the case when both clubs bid for Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile in January (Teamtalk). The interest from Moyes and Howe was snubbed by Monaco and speculation continued into the summer.
Badiashile later admitted he dreams about playing in the Premier League and having had informal talks with West Ham and Newcastle when they were making bids for his services.
“I had some contact with English clubs (in January), but this was just informal contact,” he told Goal France.
“For me, the Premier League is the best league. So, naturally, I dream about it.”
Now Chelsea boss Potter has moved for the star who admits having talks with West Ham and Newcastle amid Badiashile claims.
According to the likes of The Athletic and Sky Sports, Chelsea want to sign a new left-sided centre-back in January with West Ham and Newcastle target Badiashile the leading candidate.
West Ham and Newcastle both signed other defenders from Ligue 1 after being snubbed by Monaco for Badiashile.
The Hammers paid £30m for Nayef Aguerd from Rennes while Newcastle landed Sven Botman from Lille for a similar figure.
Injury has largely kept Aguerd out of the West Ham team but he showed his class by starring at the World Cup.
And Botman has been a revelation at Newcastle. So Moyes and Howe won’t be losing too much sleep about Chelsea now moving for the player they both wanted.
One galling aspect of the potential Chelsea deal for Badiashile, though, is the fact they may be able to get him for less than the £33-35m Newcastle and West Ham were allegedly willing to pay.
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