A Hammers insider has claimed an £18m deal could be done this summer for a target high on the David Moyes transfer wish list.
West Ham fans who followed the transfer window talk last summer and in January will be familiar with the name Nikola Milenkovic.
By all accounts the Serbian defender – dubbed ‘the new Nemanja Vidic’ – came very close to signing for West Ham for around £35m last summer.
There was even a stage when the Milenkovic to West Ham deal was being reported as done.
But as stated by the New York Times and Football Italia it emerged that reported agents fees totalling a staggering £11m saw the Serbian defender’s transfer to West Ham collapse.
When the move did not materialise, the player signed a new contract at Fiorentina and West Ham signed Kurt Zouma for £29m from Chelsea.
But that is not the end of the story for West Ham and Milenkovic it seems.
West Ham centre-backs Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson turn 34 and 32 respectively next month.
Moyes knows he needs at least one new centre-back in the summer.
And according to a West Ham insider speaking to Claret and Hugh, that man could still be Milenkovic.
Insider claims £18m deal could be done this summer for target high on David Moyes transfer wish list
The insider claims an £18m deal could be done this summer for the West Ham target who remains high on the Moyes transfer wish list.
“Fiorentina central defender Nikola Milenkovic – wanted by avid (fan) Moyes last summer – is one name on the list and is being reported as ready to move despite signing a new deal last summer,” Claret and Hugh state.
“He would cost around £18 million.”
That tallies with a recent report from Italian outlet Corriere Fiorentino, which claims West Ham’s failed move directly resulted in a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ being struck between Milenkovic’s agents and Fiorentina that he will be allowed to leave for a ‘reasonable price’ this summer.
Corriere Fiorentino (print edition March 25th, page 10) claim the contract extension which followed West Ham’s bid was nothing more than a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between him, his agent and the club whereby the defender will be effectively guaranteed the right to leave La Viola this summer.
Let’s hope the 24-year-old’s destination is West Ham as the Serbian international has proved to be a top quality defender in Serie A.