Arsenal reportedly want to beat West Ham United to the signing of AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca. The Gunners have made the Colombian their top target.
Carlos Bacca has reportedly emerged as Arsenal’s no. 1 target as manager Arsene Wenger steps up his search for a new striker. The Gunners’ chief is now determined to beat Premier League rivals West Ham United to the AC Milan striker by offering the place in next season’s UEFA Champions League Bacca wants.
Richard Amofa of the Daily Telegraph has named Arsenal as “frontrunners” for Bacca’s signature. But the original report has emerged from Italy, with Julian Cardillo of Gazzetta World adapting an article by Nicolo Schira of La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Those reports cite Bacca telling Spanish source AS of his desire to play Champions League soccer next season:
"It’s my dream to play in Champions League and work toward winning it. Unfortunately, the failure for Milan to reach the tournament is one of the themes of our discussions with the club."
Obviously, Arsenal can offer a place in Europe’s premier club competition, while the Hammers cannot. Bacca has already delayed a decision on moving to West Ham, according to Calciomercato.it, via Football-Italia.net, despite the east London club recently entering into negotiations with the player, per BBC Sport‘s Saj Chowdhury.
Lucas Spositio of Sport Witness cited a report from Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport which stated West Ham had an offer of “€27m + €3m in bonuses” accepted for the South American goal-getter, and that AC Milan are eager for a deal to be concluded quickly.
Yet, prompting second thoughts from Bacca would be the smartest decision Wenger could make during this summer’s window. Bacca would give the Frenchman’s squad what it desperately needs, namely a lethal and consistent finisher in front of goal.
Bacca has scored goals in bunches wherever he’s been. He was prolific for Belgian side Club Brugge, before helping La Liga outfit Sevilla win back-to-back UEFA Europa League titles.
While he hasn’t enjoyed the same level of success in Milan, where the Rossoneri are going though a tough transition period, Bacca still netted 18 Serie A goals last season, according to ESPN FC.
A busy player blessed with intelligent movement and deceptive quickness, the 29-year-old has a game that can translate to any league. Perhaps more importantly for the notoriously frugal Wenger, he represents the closest thing to a bargain in a market otherwise defined by inflated fees.
The Gunners have reportedly already been pushed aside by Juventus in the race for Gonzalo Higuain, admittedly a terrific striker, but one costing “just shy of £80m,” per Jack de Menezes of the Independent.
Bacca’s cost is closer to the £26 million mark, according to de Menezes. That’s a true snip for a player who is an upgrade in front of goal over current Arsenal target man Olivier Giroud.
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