AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca. (Photo : Getty Images)
English Premier League squad West Ham United reportedly sent an offer of £15 million to Italian Serie A team AC Milan for their Colombian striker Carlos Bacca as the team's own Diafra Sakho is set for a summer exit.
SkySports reported that the Hammers "have submitted a £15m bid for AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca" but the 29-year-old Colombia international is said to be "valued at £19m" by I Rossoneri, which means that the offer is not a sure deal for the English club.
The former Sevilla goalscorer had impressed during his first season in San Siro, scoring 18 goals while appearing in all 38 Serie A matches for Milan in the recently concluded season, which allegedly attracted the Premier League side.
Irons co-chairman David Sullivan is said to be insistent about the team's goal to snag a "top striker" in the coming transfer window and that they are willing to pay up to £30 million to make it happen.
The report noted that the Hammers' recent bids for Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette and Bournemouth's Callum Wilson were already rejected by the said clubs. However, West Ham is still planning to make offers for Liverpool's Christian Benteke and Marseille's Michy Batshuayi anytime soon.
"We have done well with our signings and we hope we can sign a few more this summer who will do equally as well or better," said Sullivan following their recent signing of defensive midfielder Havard Nordtveit from Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach.
"We know that we need a top striker which is the hardest thing to sign. We need a 20-goal-a-season striker and that will cost us £25m or £30m. That is where the bulk of the money goes," Sullivan added.
Meanwhile, Caught Offside indicated that West Ham could sell current striker Sakho to fellow English club Sunderland for £10 million this summer.
The 26-year-old Senegalese forward said to have fell short of expectations during his two-season stay at the Upton Park where he scored only 19 goals in a total of 49 games in all competitions, making Sullivan ready to approve the sale soonest.
The Hammers is allegedly going to use the proceeds from Sakho's sale to bulk up the offer for Bacca.
