By Wayne Veysey

30th May, 2016 | 10:13pm

West Ham turn sights to 20-goal south American striker, bid has been tabled - report

By Italy correspondent Gianluigi Carrozzini

West Ham have tabled a bid for prolific AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca, according to a report on Monday night.

The Hammers have made a move for the Colombia international just 24 hours after the club’s co-owner made clear the club’s desire to land a leading attacking talent in the forthcoming transfer window.

David Gold said on Twitter on Sunday night that West Ham will “leave no stone unturned” in their bid to land a top quality striker this summer.

Italy-based transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio claimed on his Twitter account that the London club have made a formal move for Bacca.

The 29-year-old has just completed an impressive debut season for Milan, scoring 20 goals from 43 matches in all competitions, including 18 in 38 Serie A games.

Bacca joined the Serie A giants from Sevilla 12 months ago for a fee of around £22million after his release clause was activated.

West Ham have already had a £31million bid rejected for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and Bournemouth have confirmed they have turned down a stunning £25million double offer for striker Callum Wilson and winger Matt Richie.

The likes of Liverpool’s Christian Benteke, Arsenal’s Theo Walcott and Marseille’s Michy Batshuayi have also been targeted by the east Londoners as they prepare to play at the Olympic Stadium next season.

Speaking last Friday, West Ham’s other co-owner David Sullivan gave an update on the club’s pursuit of a striker who can score around 20 goals in a season.

“We know that we need a top striker which is the hardest thing to sign,” Sullivan told the West Ham website. “We need a 20-goal-a-season striker and that will cost us £25m or £30million. That is where the bulk of the money goes.

“We also need the occasional long shot which is the cheaper player that may come good. We want to sign more players.

“There might be a few fringe players who we will let go and use that to bring in two or three more players.”

West Ham are ready to smash their club record transfer fee of £15.5million, which was spent to entice Andy Carroll from Liverpool in the summer of 2013.

Carroll is comfortably the Hammers’ record signing, although the club have also spent £10million-plus fees on the likes of Payet, Enner Valencia and Angel Ogbonna.

In other West Ham news, the club have fielded a bid worth up to £15million from Manchester United for one of their players.