Carlos Bacca is open to leaving Milan after West Ham’s initial bid of (€20m) £15m for the Colombian striker was rejected earlier this week, although his agent has warned any move may have to wait until after the Italian club’s proposed sale to Chinese investors.
Bacca, who moved to Italy from Sevilla last summer for €30m despite interest from Liverpool, has been told he can leave San Siro if a club matches their valuation in this transfer window, with Milan set to miss out on European competition next season after finishing seventh in Serie A. Despite their disappointing season, the 29-year-old scored 18 goals in the league to end the campaign as Italy’s third top scorer, behind Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuaín and Paulo Dybala of Juventus.
That led West Ham to submit a bid for Bacca last week, which was rejected over the weekend. However, the Colombian’s agent Sergio Barila indicated his client would be interested in moving to Europe, with other English clubs also believed to be interested.
“There was an offer last week from West Ham which was rejected so we must wait,” Barila, who denied reports that he had flown to London to seal the deal, told the Guardian.
“Carlos is very happy in Milan because it is a very big club and he has enjoyed his time there so far. But they will not play in European competition next season and that could be a problem. At the moment Carlos is training with the national team for the Copa América and it is likely we will have to wait for the new investors before anything can develop.”
Bacca scored 34 goals in 71 appearances for Sevilla having joined from the Belgian side Club Brugge in 2013. He only arrived in Europe at the age of 24 having spent his formative years at Barranquilla-based Atlético Junior, where he worked as a bus driver’s assistant to supplement his income.
West Ham have made no secret of their desire to sign a top-class striker this summer, with bids already made for Marseille’s Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette of Lyon and Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson. They have also inquired about Italy international Simone Zaza and Watford’s Odion Ighalo, with the latter also a target for Everton and West Bromwich Albion
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