Nikola Vlasic appears to be closing in on an exit from West Ham United, having spent less than a year at the London Stadium.
Gianluca Di Marzio claims that Torino are close to agreeing a loan deal for the 24-year-old – one that includes an option to buy him for around €18 million, including bonuses, next summer.
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Vlasic has endured a disastrous spell with West Ham since moving to the London Stadium for around £25.7 million on transfer deadline day last summer (The Athletic).
At the time, David Moyes has just missed out on signing Jesse Lingard on a permanent deal from Manchester United.
It seemed as though the Croatian international was a panic signing and there were suggestions that Moyes hadn’t done his usual due diligence on him.
Vlasic has really struggled with the Hammers, although it must be stated that he hasn’t once been played in his favoured position by Moyes.
He has bagged just one goal and two assists in 31 games for West Ham (Transfermarkt). And it appears as though his days in East London are numbered…
Nikola Vlasic looks set to leave West Ham
Gianluca Di Marzio claims it could be just a matter of time before the 24-year-old leaves the Hammers.
David Moyes clearly isn’t a fan of Vlasic and rarely trusted him last season.
The Scot’s opinion of the Croatian is a far cry from how he reacted when we signed him last summer
On August 31st, 2021, Moyes told The Athletic:
“I have been watching Nikola improve over recent seasons – he has a good goals and assists record during that time. He is also a Croatia international with experience and still being only 23, I feel there is more to come from him.”
Did Moyes massively underestimate just how inferior the Russian league is to the Premier League? Did he neglect the fact that it is much harder to provide regular goal contributions in England?
Also, the West Ham boss suggested that there is more to come from Vlasic. Considering the fact that Moyes takes so long to bed players in and taking into account how the Croatian has been played out of position, why is the Scot giving up on him so soon?
Surely Moyes should have been more wary about bringing Vlasic to West Ham. His good form for CSKA Moscow certainly wasn’t a guarantee that he would succeed in the Premier League.
Vlasic’s struggles in England highlight just how hard it is to make it in the Premier League. He’s a 39-capped Croatia international but could not cope with the pace and intensity of the English game.
West Ham are right to move Nikola Vlasic on, even if it means making a loss.
And it’s a shame that Moyes’s initial verdict on the Croatian proved to be so far wide of the mark. You don’t just lose talent overnight. So perhaps he was somewhat of a panic buy. Perhaps Moyes wasn’t as thorough with him as he is with other potential new signings.
It is strange how highly Moyes rated Vlasic, and how much his opinion on the 24-year-old has changed.
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