West Ham United failed to sign Nikola Milenkovic because of fees that would have to be paid to the Fiorentina defender’s agent, according to Firenze Viola.
It looked for all the world as though West Ham’s long-running pursuit of a central defender was coming to an end last week.
After missing out on Kurt Zouma and failing with a bid for Nice stopper Nayef Aguerd, Milenkovic felt like a welcome glint of light at the end of a long and winding tunnel.
According to Corriere dello Sport, West Ham made a £13.5 million bid for the 6ft 5in Serb.
That’s £20 million less than Fiorentina were demanding for Milenkovic in summer 2020 but, after the towering centre-half refused to extend a contract that expires in just 11 months’ time, La Viola had no choice but to accept a low-ball bid for a man they were initially desperate to keep.
But it seems as though Milenkovic can now point the finger of blame in the direction of his agent, Fali Ramadani, after his big-money move to the London Stadium slipped through his grasp for a second year in a row.
West Ham target Milenkovic may now join Spurs
According to Firenze Viola, West Ham were reluctant to pay a substantial commission to Ramadani, an influential agent who also has Federico Chiesa, Leroy Sane and Kalidou Koulibaly on his roster.
So with West Ham’s offer now off the table, what does the immediate future hold for Milenkovic?
Fiorentina would rather cash in now than lose one of their prized assets on a free transfer next year.
Tottenham Hotspur are interested but it’s understood Milenkovic, who’s open to joining Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, is merely a back-up option at this stage.
Spurs would prefer to snap up Bologna’s Takehiro Tomiyasu instead.
The Japan international would be slightly more expensive but that extra £4 million would get you a player capable of filling in anywhere across the back four, not to mention in defensive midfield.
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