‘High-level’ defender ‘rejected’ chance of West Ham move – Deal was ‘practically done’

As you might remember, West Ham United tried to sign Nikola Milenkovic last summer.

There was a long negotiation between Fiorentina and the Hammers for the Serbian defender, who was said to be close to signing for the London side.

In the end, the deal never went through, with some claiming it was West Ham who walked away from the talks, eventually signing Kurt Zouma to hand David Moyes a much needed centre-back.

Well, if Angelo Giorgetti, journalist for La Nazione, is to be believed, it was actually the other way around, with the defender deciding to turn down the Premier League side to stay with Fiorentina for at least another year.

He said in an interview with TuttoJuve, when asked if there was a chance of the player signing for Juventus: “I really don’t know. I can only say that Milenkovic is a high-level defender who rejected West Ham last summer – the deal was practically done – and is very close to Vlahovic.”.

The 24-year-old has been key to Vincenzo Italiano’s plans this season, making 26 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A side so far, scoring three goals in the process.