By Joe Ellis

5th Jan, 2023 | 11:40am

Torino want to activate Nikola Vlasic clause now to complete West Ham United exit

Nikola Vlasic may have his West Ham United tenure ended in January as Torino want to make his loan move permanent, according to Calcio Mercato.

The Croatian international played a key role, mostly off the bench, for the national side at the World Cup as they reached the semi-finals and he has enjoyed a good start to life in Serie A this season too.

But West Ham are not interested in keeping him at the London Stadium after he failed to live up to his price tag last season following a deadline-day move from CSKA Moscow.

As a result, Torino are now ready to activate the buyout clause of his loan deal in the January transfer window rather than in the summer, as was originally planned and expected, to secure his future.

In order to make the deal go through, the Italian top-flight side will need to fork out £12.3million as per the loan agreement and then it will be up to Vlasic as to whether he stays in Turin long-term or returns to England.

What could’ve been

David Moyes never really allowed the Croatian to get into full flight at the London Stadium with his team selection relatively predictable last season as West Ham reached European football again.

Only the odd substitute appearance seemed to come his way and as a result, he looked like a waste of money but he could have been a sensational purchase if he was given the chance to prove it.

It now looks like he will go down as a failed transfer after just one season in claret and blue but Moyes probably wishes he could call upon the World Cup semi-finalist right now with results very hard to come by in the Premier League.

Torino are set to benefit from the Scotsman’s stubbornness and it will have to be left to the imagination as to whether he would have been the spark required this season.

Still, £12.3million would be very handy in the January transfer market. Silver linings.