Longstanding West Ham United striker target Carlos Bacca could finally be on his way to the Premier League this summer.
Carlos Bacca
The Hammers made the AC Milan star their prime target last summer after failed bids for Alexandre Lacazette and Michy Batshuayi.
The Colombian opted to remain at the San Siro, though, and helped the Serie A giants qualify for next season’s Europa League with 14 goals from 31 games.
In the end West Ham had to settle for flops Simone Zaza and Jonathan Calleri on loan and scored one goal between them.
Zaza saw his loan deal cancelled less than six months in as he joined Valencia while Calleri has steadily improved and works hard but looks short in terms of quality to perform in the Premier League.
Slaven Bilic’s attentions have now turned to once again trying to solve his striker problem with Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho spending more time on the treatment table than the pitch this season.
The Croatian has been linked with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Daniel Sturridge, Isaac Success, Kelechi Inhenacho, Michy Batshuayi and Bacca again.
But his options already look to be dwindling with Rooney most likely to return to Everton if he leaves Manchester United, Success staying at Watford, Tottenham showing interest in Inhenacho, Bournemouth frontrunners for Defoe and both Sturridge and Batshuayi playing their way into stays at their respective clubs.
Slaven Bilic and Arsene Wenger
The list could get shorter still too after Bacca was linked with a move to West Ham’s London rivals Arsenal.
According to Transfer Market, the 30-year-old forward former Sevilla star is wanted by Chinese trio Guangzhou Evergrande, Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Quanjian as well as Arsene Wenger’s Gunners.
The report claims the North Londoners want to replace Olivier Giroud with Bacca.
Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud looks dejected
That might not be all bad news for the Hammers, though, as they themselves have been linked with a move for Giroud who has grown fed up of his lack of game time at the Emirates.
So should Arsenal land Bacca ahead of the Hammers, it could improve Bilic’s chances of bringing in Giroud who is a proven Premier League goalscorer.
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