Italian journalist: West Ham United loanee Nikola Vlasic worth more than £13m buy option
Italian journalist Raimondo De Magistris has suggested that West Ham loanee Nikola Vlasic is worth more than his £13million buy option.
The 24-year-old is currently with Torino on a season-long loan deal which could see the Serie A side sign him permanently next summer.
Vlasic has been in fine form for the Serie side scoring three goals in six games which has seen Tuttomercatoweb journalist De Magistris praise the Croatian’s performance.
Writing for Tuttomercatoweb on Tuesday 13 September, he said: “He is worth all of it [£13million], he is worth even more. With six appearances and three goals, he is the best player in this Torino side and he is only 24 years old.
“Juric has a champion in his squad who seems to have finally found his level in Serie A.”
Hammers blunder
Letting Vlasic leave on loan wasn’t a bad move from the Hammers, but including an option to buy in the deal with Torino does seem like a bit of blunder from the club hierarchy.
The 24-year-old was never really given an opportunity by David Moyes and his form in Italy in the 2022/23 season displays that the Hammers did have a player with a lot of talent on their books.
A loan move this season to assess his performance and then allowing him another chance at the London Stadium was probably the best option for the club.
Now they could be left in a situation which makes the decision makers at the London Stadium looking rather stupid.
Vlasic had to exit this summer, with the 24-year-old at an age where can’t really be sitting on the bench week in and week out if he wants to progress as far as he can in his career.
The Hammers do have an array of attacking talent at their disposal now and potentially getting Vlasic off the wage bill next summer could be a good thing for the club.
Time will tell if this was a good move for West Ham because right now, it’s not looking good.