Breaking: Crystal Palace have bid accepted for Marseille's Batshuayi

Reports in the French media tonight claim that Crystal Palace have had a bid of €38 million accepted for Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi.

West Ham United had been credited with a long-standing interest in the 22-year-old belgian, but it appears that Palace have now stolen a march on the Hammers to agree a fee with l'OM.

Marseille are in need of a speedy cash injection and were looking to cash in on Batshuayi to the tune of €40 million.

L'equipe  are reporting that Palace have agreed a €38 million fee, with Marseille retaining the rights to a percentage of any future transfer fee, should the London club eventually sell the player.

The Belgian poacher scored an impressive 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season, despite his club's largely atrocious form.

Batshuayi is currently on international duty with Belgium at the UEFA European Championship in France, where he scored after coming on as a late substitute against Hungary on Sunday night's last-16 win, so any potential deal will likely have to wait until the player has fulfilled his commitments with Marc Wilmots' side.

Batshuayi is a physically imposing centre-forward with a keen eye for sniffing out a goal-scoring opportunities in the penaltly area. His athleticism, strength and pace should make him an ideal fit for the Premier League.

The six-cap Belgium international joined Marseille from Standard Liege in 2014. After scoring 10 goals in his first season at the Stade Velodrome, Batshuayi elevated his game to a new level last season, and at 22, there could yet be plenty more to come.