Another set-back for West Ham as Colombian target Carlos Bacca rejects a €30 million move
Not West Ham bound – Carlos Bacca
Carlos Bacca has rejected West Ham United, according to a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday evening.
The Hammers had agreed a fee of €30 million (roughly £25 million) with AC Milan, equatable to what Milan paid Sevilla for the striker last summer.
However after taking time to deliberate their offer, thought to be in the region of £3.2 million per year according to the Italian outlet ($4.2 million), the Colombian has rejected the chance to come to England and play in the Premier League.
Bacca wants to play in the Champions League
It is believed that the 29-year-old still favours a switch back to Spain, especially with Atletico Madrid showing interest in him. More importantly, the Colombian is determined to play in the Champions League, something West Ham at present, cannot offer him.
The Hammers will nevertheless be playing in Europe next season at their brand new stadium in East London, but it will be Europa League football on show, rather than Champions League.
Bacca’s decision will come as a major blow for West Ham, who have been repelled at every turn in their hunt for a marquee forward.
Bacca in action for Colombia
They missed out on former Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi who elected to join Chelsea earlier this month, as well as Vincent Janssen who has joined Spurs, and they have faced rebuttals from Bournemouth for Callum Wilson, Liverpool for Christian Benteke and Juventus for Simone Zaza.
Co-owner David Sullivan also revealed that former club favourite Carlos Tevez turned the club down despite being offered a princely sum of £150,000 per week to rejoin the Hammers, apparently demanding an eye-watering £250,000 a week instead, as per the Daily Mirror.
And it looks like their luck is not about to turn, with their pursuit of Bacca now almost in tatters.
Bacca in action in the Europa League for Sevilla
To make matters worse, there is every possibility that Carlos Bacca could face West Ham next season – with Gazzetta also claiming that Arsenal are now monitoring the forward, and they could be prepared to hijack any deal.
But Atletico remain Bacca’s preferred destination, however, they are not thought have made the Milan striker a concrete offer as yet.
The Colombian has an impressive strike rate of a goal for every two games throughout his career, and he was a shining light in a disappointing Milan side last term, who were only able to muster a seventh place finish in Serie A. Bacca, nonetheless, still managed to net 18 times in 38 games.
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