Torino manager Ivan Juric has confirmed they are continuing their work on a deal with West Ham United for Nikola Vlasic but the Hammers asking price remains a problem.
The manager has been speaking after the pre-season friendly with Modena this week when the subject of Vlasic’s return was brought up.
The Croatian spent the entirety of last season on loan with the Italian side and established himself as a key player in that time with a series of impressive performances.
They’ve been keen to keep him on a permanent basis but allowed a clause to sign him expire earlier in the summer.
Their belief was that they could convince West Ham to do a deal at a lower price, but the Hammers have remained resistant, insisting that Torino pay the fee they initially agreed.
That’s led to the deal being stuck and growing frustration from everyone involved, particularly Vlasic, who is determined to get out of the London Stadium and back to Italy.
Juric is likewise frustrated at the situation and aimed his ire at West Ham in his latest comments on the stuck transfer negotiations.
“As things stand, the team is inferior to last season,” he said.
“We lost five players this summer and only brought back two. We need three more top tier as Vlasic, Aleksei Miranchuk and Valentino Lazaro were top tier.
“I know that we are not yet in August, and I have no doubt that we will manage to complete the team.
“Our desire is to have him (Vlasic), he wants to come back and can do better than last season. The problem is economic, because we cannot afford it at the moment. We hope to reach an agreement, but they are asking too much for what Toro can afford.”
