West Ham: Bacca update; Striker battle with Arsenal; Argentinean close to signing

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It is bad news for Hammers fans as it seems increasingly likely that AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca has rejected a move to the Olympic Stadium. The Express claim that the Colombian has refused a move as he is only seeking a move in order to play Champions League football, which the Hammers are unable to offer.

The response is a major blow for the East Londoners, who saw Bacca as the answer to their striking woes and had been waiting for his answer for a while now. However, they do have several other targets in mind, although few are of the quality that Bacca would have brought to spearhead the claret and blue attack.

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One such alternative, and the highest quality, is Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi. The young Argentinean is also being hunted by Arsenal, and a bid of over £40 million could be required according to the Express. The Gunners are supposedly entering negotiations with the player, but David Gold has reportedly agreed to make another £10 million available for a striker after setting an initial budget of £30 million but suffering repeated rejections.

Icardi is keen on a move away from the San Siro, but will undoubtedly have offers from clubs offering Champions League football, including their London rivals, with Chelsea and Tottenham also said to be considering moves for the striker. After scoring 43 goals in 78 games in the past two seasons, it’s clear why he’s in demand and would be a major coup for West Ham.

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On a more positive note, it’s believed that a move for another Argentinean striker, Jonathan Calleri, is nearing completion. After hearing good things from compatriot Carlos Tevez, the Deportivo Maldonado forward is close to completing a loan move to London in favour of a move to Seville, according to the Guardian.

The youngster has a good track record to date, but has never tried his luck outside of South America, so how he adapts to English football could be an interesting challenge, which may explain why the initial deal is only a loan, potentially with a right to buy.

Yet another striker that West Ham have been linked with this summer has now become available according to the Croydon Advertiser, with Crystal Palace also monitoring the situation of Fiorentina forward Khouma Babacar. The Italian club are said to be willing to accept bids of £8.5 million in order to help them rebuild their squad.

Babacar would represent a good alternative should the Hammers fail in their big money moves this summer, but he is unlikely to be available if the London club hang around before making a move, and they are unlucky to rush into making an offer for a player who lacks the star quality of a Benteke, Bacca or Icardi type player.

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The Irons could also face competition in their move for Toulose striker Wissam Ben Yeder, who scored 17 goals to save his side from relegation last term, as champions Leicester City target the 25 year old. West Ham are believed to have made a move for him in January and are now revisiting that deal, with the striker available for £8.5 million according to the Guardian.

Ben Yeder is the kind of striker who West Ham believe that they would easily be able to secure, at a reasonable price without much competition from so called bigger clubs, but the arrival of Leicester into the frame could change things with their offer of a title defence and Champions League football on offer.

Heading the opposite way is Enner Valencia, at the centre of a bidding war between Lazio and Swansea, although the Express claim that neither side has met the Hammers’ valuation of £15 million despite making only 19 appearances last term.

It’s likely that current bids, believed to be in the region of £10 million to £13 million including add ons, would have been accepted if only one club was interested, but West Ham, known for getting a good deal when selling players, will be holding out for a bidding war to push the Ecuadorian’s price up as they seek to get rid.

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