Ex Hammers player and manager Harry Redknapp tips £33m man Nikola Vlasic to be a West Ham hit after something he saw.
The Croatian midfielder endured a difficult start to his Hammers career.
Used mostly as a substitute, Vlasic had struggled to make the kind of impact many had expected when he joined from CSKA Moscow in the summer.
Many fans and pundits have been critical of the 23-year-old’s performances, questioning whether he has what it takes to be a success at West Ham.
Moyes was sure about his investment, though, and publicly backed his player to come good on a number of occasions.
The Scot stuck to his methodology of drip-feeding new signings into the Hammers first team.
It looks like paying off as Vlasic appears to be coming to the boil at just the right time with Said Benrahma away at the AFCON.
Vlasic has looked really good in recent matches, catching the eye with his sharpness, strength and ability on the ball.
Former Hammers boss Redknapp knows a player when he sees one.
And he told West Ham’s website that something he saw from Vlasic this week tells him he will be a hit.
“I liked the look of Nikola Vlasic last Sunday (in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Leeds),” Redknapp told whufc.com.
“He showed some fine touches and that performance against Leeds in the FA Cup tie will have done him a world of good.”
Vlasic was equally impressive in the 2-0 win over Norwich in midweek too.
Let’s hope for more of the same today and another confidence boosting goal
Let’s hope for more of the same today against Leeds and another confidence boosting goal or assist.
It should be no surprise that Vlasic is starting to come good. Moyes has an impeccable record in the transfer market since returning to West Ham.
Moyes demanded full control of the football operation and to the credit of the owners, he was given it.
Vlasic has an incredible sporting pedigree.
He comes from remarkable stock – you can read all about it in a special Hammers News feature – The incredible sporting pedigree of West Ham’s £33m new boy Nikola Vlasic and the tight-knit family not afraid to speak their minds.