West Ham and Torino are locked in battle over a transfer fee for Nikola Vlasic.
Croatian star Vlasic played for Torino, on loan from the Hammers for the entirety of last season. He started strong, faded, and came back to finish the term on a high, scoring five goals and assisting six.
Along the way, Torino agreed to a transfer price after the loan stint was over. That amount was for about £12m. Now an anonymous West Ham official says Il Toro squad want to change the agreed upon deal.
The future of West Ham ace Nikola Vlasic is uncertain with Torino wanting to pay less than previously agreed for him.
“It’s buyers remorse maybe,” says the official. “We saw a player that was talented but inconsistent so we felt with a full season of playing time under his belt he’d be better for it. Unfortunately, Torino got to see what we saw.” A talented but sometimes inconsistent player the source went on to say.
The official says the two sides are far apart with West Ham holding firm at around £12m, about £10m less than what they paid CSKA Moscow in 2021 to bring Vlasic to the club. Torino is offering just above £8m to complete the loan-transfer deal. His contract at London Stadium runs until 2026.
Interestingly enough, Vlasic made his feelings known in June expressing that he would like to remain at Torino with a return to West Ham not being an option at all. Club officials have held discussions with the 25-year-old and his reps to hopefully work out a deal.
“We still think he’s talented,” the team source admitted. “He’s young, strong, hungry, and has played big in big games. Those are the type of players we want. He may stay here, but he has to come in here and compete for playing time like most of our squad. What changed that wasn’t available while he was here last, is that we are playing a lot more matches.”
Vlasic featured in his usual attacking midfielder role in Serie A but also was tried as a striker. Before coming to West Ham, Vlasic had scored 54 goals in 108 matches in Moscow. Additionally, he had a strong showing at the World Cup in Qatar as Croatia made the semi-final and they also made the Nations League final.
David Moyes had high hopes for Vlasic when he came over from Moscow, if the manager still feels the same we’ll find out soon enough.