Chelsea transfer rumour: AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca is January target for Blues

Chelsea are considering bolstering their attacking options for the second half of the season and are weighing up a move for AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca in January. He joined the Italian club from Sevilla last summer after winning the Europa League for two consecutive seasons.

The Rossoneri frontman has bagged eight goals and registered two assists in 19 Serie A appearances so far this season. The English champions have struggled this term and their poor form has seen them sack Jose Mourinho and replace him with Guus Hiddink in December.

According to The Telegraph, Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo has put Bacca in the list of striker targets, along with Leicester City star Jamie Vardy and Atletico Madrid's Jackson Martinez. The same report also claims the west London club are not the only English team monitoring the Milan striker.

Manchester United are also looking to land the Colombian international in the ongoing transfer window and could provide competition to Chelsea, if they decide to make a bid for him. Both the Premier League clubs have made enquiries about the player's situation at San Siro.

Bacca is valued to be around £30m ($43.5m) and could be made available in January, despite the striker being happy with his life in Italy. Chelsea have the services of Diego Costa, Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy as the first choice strikers at Stamford Bridge.

The latter two have struggled for regular playing time as the Brazil-born Spain international is the first choice striker at Chelsea. On the other hand, Louis van Gaal has Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial as the only two players in the striker's position at Old Trafford, along with Will Keane.

United were eliminated from the group stages of the Champions League, which has seen them settling for the Europa League. Chelsea have progressed to the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition and they face Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 clash.

AC Milan did not qualify for the European competition this season. Should Bacca join Chelsea or United in January, he could feature in the Champions League or the Europa League as he is not cup tied.