West Ham United transfer news as Nikola Vlasic update emerges from Italy
Torino are evaluating a deal for West Ham midfielder Nikola Vlasic who spent last season on loan at the Italian side, although West Ham are causing the deal to stall, according to Torino’s director of football Davide Vagnati, via Calcio in Pillole.
Vagnati revealed that negotiations are ongoing with West Ham over Vlasic, but with each conversation they have, a deal seems to appear less and less likely. He shared that it could still happen, but it may not, and that it would be better to stay quiet about the deal.
Previous reports had suggested that it is Vlasic’s intention to join Torino on a permanent basis this summer, but Torino decided not to activate the £11.1million option to buy as they believe they can get the player for a lower fee.
When asked in a press conference about the move to sign Vlasic, Vagnati revealed: “We are evaluating Nikola: the more we talk about him, the worse it is. It can be done or not. West Ham are a club of a certain kind. It’s better to talk a little about it”.
It suits all parties to let the player leave
It makes sense to let Vlasic leave the club this summer, with the player keen to return to Italy and Torino keen to sign him, while the East London club have no use for him in their current squad, with better players in his position.
The delay in the deal is likely a financial one. West Ham spent £25.7million on Vlasic in 2021, and are unwilling to cut their losses after just two years. They will try to get every penny of that initial fee back if it is possible, which counters the deal Torino are looking to do on the cheap.
Vlasic has scored just one goal for West Ham, but managed five in his time at Torino, with Italy clearly a better fit for his style of play and physicality than the Premier League.
If all parties are keen on doing this deal, West Ham should allow him to leave for anything close to the price originally set in his loan deal. They are no longer desperate for money after selling Declan Rice, so the best option may be to cut their losses on a player that has ultimately been a poor deal.
In other West Ham news, the club are looking to seal a deal for a new defender this summer.