A lot of West Ham fans are getting frustrated at the fact that Carlos Bacca has taken so long to make a decision on his future, but can he be blamed?
The striker turns 30 in September and if he does move this summer, it is likely to be his last big move that could make or break the rest of his career. The forward is hopeful of Champions League football, he has not kept that a secret. Although it may be difficult for Hammers fans to hear that, it shows that Bacca has a real willingness to succeed and prove himself at the highest level, it is not a personal attack on West Ham so why should we attack him?
If the Hammers do manage to sign the Colombian international, it would be a massive coup for the club, similar to the Payet capture last summer. In fact, the pursuit of the French international was also a lengthy process that looked doomed at times but the Hammers eventually got their man.
A big criticism for West Ham in this window is the way the board have declared their interest in signing a forward. This has put us in a position where we have to offer big money and excellent wages as players and clubs realise that we desperately need a striker to deliver the goals. Also, a goalscorer is the player that you are going to have to pay big money for. It is hardly surprising that the Hammers are finding it difficult to capture some of Europe’s top forwards as the players can call the shots. Although many of us won’t want to admit it, we may need Bacca more than he needs us.
The easy response is to claim that we should abandon the chase as he hasn’t shown a real commitment to sign for the club. Although this is certainly a rational thought, there isn’t really a better striker than Bacca available in the transfer market at the moment that West Ham can afford or attract to the club. If the 29-year-old does eventually sign for the Hammers and goes on to score 20+ goals a season, people will quickly forget his delayed decision to join the club.
Nowadays, it is a rarity for players to seek out an individual team to play for. Instead, they look for a decent chance for success and a good wage. Loyalty does still exist in small doses in the footballing world but Carlos Bacca doesn’t really owe us anything.
We will have to wait until tomorrow to get a definitive answer, but whatever happens, the Hammers have come very close to signing one of Europe’s best strikers and you can’t say the owners haven’t tried. Let’s just hope tomorrow is good news.
