Sevilla say they have not received any formal bids for Colombian striker Carlos Bacca.
The 28-year-old is a reported target for English clubs Manchester United and Liverpool FC, as well as Serie A outfits AC Milan and AS Roma.
Speaking at the official presentation of Danish midfielder Khron Dehli, 32, on Thursday, the La Liga club’s sporting director, Ramon Rodriguez ‘monchi’ Vardejo told newsmen that- though they can’t get on the way of any team willing to meet Bacca’s buy-out clause- the striker is not for sale.
“We have not received an official offer for Bacca,” Monchi said on his club’s website. “We gave him a new contract 10 months ago and I believe he and his family are very happy here. But I cannot predict the future.”
Bacca joined the back-to-back Europa League winners from Belgian side Club Bruge for €7m in July 2013 and has a €30m (£21m) release clause inserted into his contract.
He has scored 34 goals in 71 appearances since joining Sevilla and has three more years left in his current deal.
Monchi who agrees he is not a “fortune teller” reiterated in no uncertain terms that Bacca is not in the transfer market.
“None has averaged 24.5 goals in two seasons among the most sought-after players in the transfer market- 21 goals in the first and 28 in the second- and hopefully they will not meet his release clause, it’s a risk, but there is nothing we can do,” he concluded.
Bacca was Red carded after the final whistle for pushing Brazilian skipper Neymar, who himself was earlier sent off for kicking the ball at Pablo Armero. Bacca received a two-match ban while Neymar bagged four matches suspension.
