West Ham: Bacca update; Liverpool forward targeted; star striker wants out

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David Sullivan and David Gold have made no secret of their desire to spend this summer, and a new striker seems to be top of their list.

AC Milan forward Carlos Bacca has been a consistent target throughout this window, but The Sun suggests the Hammers are ready to bid for Crystal Palace target Christian Benteke.

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Liverpool could well recoup the sum they spent on Benteke, a remarkable situation given his cumbersome and timid first season at Anfield. Benteke scored nine goals in 29 Premier League appearances last term, though he hit double figures in each of his three seasons at Aston Villa.

The Belgian’s history suggests he is at his best as the star attraction in a team, and Slaven Bilic could be set to make him the focal point if his attacking line-up.

This could certainly be the case if Diafra Sakho puts in the transfer request that Sky Sports suggests he is considering.

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Sakho scored just five Premier League goals in 18 starts last season, but has shown enough his two seasons in England to warrant a second look with Sunderland apparently circling.

West Ham’s interest in Bacca has firmed up in the past day or two though, and the Colombian would represent a real coup for the Hammers.

Bacca netted 18 goals in 36 Serie A starts last season and could be West Ham’s for £26 million according to the Daily Express.

West Ham fans will be intrigued to discover how this reshuffling of their forward line plays out, with huge sums of money being talked about. An important question may be whether The Hammers will acquire both Bacca and Benteke to replace Sakho, or will they only look for a single incoming?

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Away from the striking department, West Ham are set to sign Besiktas winger Gokhan Tore on loan.

Tore has worked with Hammers boss Bilic previously, who must see potential in the German who has yet to hit double-figures in the goals column during his career.

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