Carlos Bacca has been constantly linked with a move to East London and is the club’s number one target.
The Colombian forward has previously turned down West Ham’s advances in pursuit of Champions League football. In recent weeks the various clubs reported to be interested in him, the likes of PSG, Napoli, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid have all rejected the 29 year old. Thus, the AC Milan striker is left with the only concrete offer he ever had, West Ham.
Some West Ham fans are frustrated with the club’s pursuit of Carlos Bacca and other forwards but there is no doubting the Colombian’s goal scoring record. The former Sevilla man scored 18 league goals for the Rossoneri in a side lacking creativity. The 5ft 11 attacker has scored an extremely impressive 69 goals in the last three seasons in competitive leagues.
In some circles of West Ham fans, they dislike Carlos Bacca’s attitude as he has rejected the club previously. However, he is 29 and this decision is a defining one given his age, I think he deserves every right to weigh up his options. Ultimately, if the Colombian signs for Slaven Bilic’s side, and scores goals those fans who criticised his hesitance at first will forgive him.
West Ham have lacked a prolific striker who can score 20+ goals a season for many years, and the arrival of Bacca would be a real signal of intent in West Ham’s pursuit for progress and Champions League football at the new stadium. Had the team featured a consistent goal scorer last season, West Ham would probably have finished in the top 4. Slaven Bilic has built a very impressive team and the squad with a number of additions will look very strong, the team will look far stronger with a consistent goal scorer like Bacca.
Former Sevilla manager, Unai Emery when questioned about Bacca said – “(Bacca) has great skills and qualities and is extraordinarily competitive. He wants more and more. Every time he’s on the pitch he wants to grow, you can call it hunger. He wants the ceiling to be higher and higher, he’s got great potential.”
Journalist Jonathan Wilson praised the Colombian for his performance against Dnipro in the 2015 Europa league final (a final in which Bacca scored 2 of Sevilla’s 3 goals) saying “This was a master class in working the front line, looking for space, dragging defenders out of position. It was a performance of great selflessness.”
In summary, West Ham fans can say what they like about his attitude but the Colombian international’s goal scoring record is extremely good and would be West Ham’s best striker in a long time. The AC Milan man would add quality in abundance in East London and I have no doubt he could be prolific if he joins West Ham this summer, and take the Hammers to a new level.