Sevilla manager Unai Emery is the leading candidate to replace Laurent Blanc next season at PSG, and the Spaniard reportedly wants a reunion with Carlos Bacca in Paris.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Carlos Bacca is one of the potential candidates to fill the gaping void in the French capital left by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s departure (via Football Italia). Bacca, who is a more orthodox striker than the big Swede, has enjoyed a good season at AC Milan, despite his team’s poor league position in the Italian Serie A in 2015-16.
AC Milan future uncertain
There is an element of uncertainty regarding the ownership of AC Milan, with Silvio Berlusconi holding talks with a Chinese consortium, which is a joint venture from Chinese businessmen. There is a dearth of knowledge regarding the specifics of the individuals involved with the ‘consortium’, and moreover, the logistics of the sale are becoming increasingly unclear. Berlusconi’s sudden collapse in health has only served to add to the confusion.
Bacca was recently linked with a move to West Ham United, with Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reporting that Milan had rejected West Ham’s initial approach. Reports claimed that Milan want €25 million for the 29-year-old Colombian, who scored 18 goals last season and assisted a further two. Milan had bought the striker last year for €30 million from Sevilla, with the Italian giants’ fans understandably incensed by the club’s transfer policy.
Since then, however, Bacca’s agent has confirmed that his client is focused only on Milan. He said (via Four Four Two): “Carlos is very happy in Milan because it is a very big club and he has enjoyed his time there so far.
“But they will not play in European competition next season and that could be a problem. At the moment Carlos is training with the national team for the Copa America and it is likely we will have to wait for the new investors before anything can develop.”
The lure of PSG
It would be a case of tragic irony for Milan if Bacca does leave to play for Unai Emery at PSG, since the Sevilla coach was reportedly first choice for the coaching position at Milan next season. This would not be the first time Milan will have lost their prized asset to PSG. In the summer of 2011, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and skipper Thiago Silva were sold to PSG for a meagre €50 million, much to the horror of the fans.
The prospect of Champions League football could be a decisive factor in favour of PSG. Bacca does not have many more years at the top and would ideally want to get back to winning ways in Europe and pick up from where he left off at Sevilla.
However, Edinson Cavani has wanted to play more of a central role at PSG for years and will finally have the chance to do so with Ibrahimovic’s departure. Moreover, PSG currently play a one striker system, where the second striker is relegated to the wings. If he joins the French capital club, Emery could make changes to the formation to perhaps accommodate two strikers like he often did at Sevilla.
