Bought from CSKA Moscow for £27m last summer, it’s fair to say that Nikola Vlasic has been a flop at West Ham United so far.
The Croatian has managed just one goal and two assists in 31 appearances, and the news that he could be leaving London Stadium, even if just temporarily, isn’t surprising.
Torino have been after the West Ham man for a few weeks now, and while no deal has been struck yet, there is confidence something can happen.
This comes courtesy of a couple of reports in Italy, with Calciomercato.it’s Raffaele Amato taking to Twitter to explain that while ‘there are also other Italian clubs’, it’s the Turin side who ‘remain in front’ with the Hammers ‘opening up to the option to buy’ formula.
Cresce la fiducia per Vlasic. Sul croato ci sono anche altri club italiani, ma il Torino resta davanti e il West Ham sta aprendo al diritto di riscatto. Dal club inglese fanno sapere che si potrebbe chiudere già in questa settimana. #Vlasic @calciomercatoit https://t.co/nrHLVg7NGp
— Raffaele Amato (@RaffaeleAmato14) August 8, 2022
The newspaper explain that while Vlasic once looked too expensive, he ‘now appears more affordable thanks to the opening of the English for a loan with an option to buy’.
While his wages are still high, it’s explained that Urbano Cairo, Torino’s president, ‘wants to give Ivan Juric a gift’, as he is still waiting for the replacement of Andrea Belotti.
Vlasic isn’t the man for that role, but it’s also added the Italians are ‘in a hurry’ to fill the gap left by Josip Brekalo’s return to VfL Wolfsburg, and that’s where the West Ham man would come in.
Meanwhile, Tuttosport add a little tidbit, claiming the Croatian himself is ‘putting pressure’ on the Hammers to get a deal done, clearly keen to leave London for Italy sooner rather than later, with his agents in ‘constant contact’ with the Serie A club.
Either way, this appears to be heading in the right direction.
