Sky Italia pundit Nicola Roggero has questioned why Nikola Vlasic struggled at West Ham with the Croatian international thriving with Torino after signing for the Serie A side on loan in the summer transfer window.
Speaking to Toronews, the Italian critic was puzzled by how Vlasic couldn’t perform in the Premier League after the 24-year-old attacker signed for Torino on loan and took to life in Italy like a duck to water, with the West Ham forward bagging three goals in his first five Serie A games.
West Ham signed Vlasic last summer for a reported deal costing £35m in total, yet despite the high price tag and the immense potential the former CSKA Moscow superstar had, the versatile attacker was unable to settle in England, with the forward scoring just once for David Moyes side.
Even with regular minutes in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League, Vlasic was unable to fit into West Ham’s system, and this summer saw the Croat sign for Torino on loan, where the former Russian Premier League star has been one of the best players in the entire division.
And it is this form that has puzzled Roggero, who couldn’t understand why Vlasic is flourishing in Serie A and failed in the Premier League despite the similarities between the two divisions and the attacker’s own style of play, which seemed tailormade for the English top-flight.
The Italian pundit said: “In the Premier League, he was less successful than expected, both at Everton and West Ham. He’s a quality player and strangely in England, he couldn’t deliver at the level he knows he is at. I say strangely because he’s quick and efficient, so he is well suited to English football. In Russia, on the other hand, he did very well.”
Torino signing Vlasic will get the best out of him ahead of West Ham return
Vlasic’s form in England for West Ham was concerning, to say the least, but with the attacker thriving in Torino in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues, there’s a good chance that this loan move will be what gets the best out of the attacker ahead of his return to east London next year.
Indeed, whilst Moyes could decide to sell Vlasic, if the forward continues this form throughout the season in Italy, the West Ham boss will have to find a way to fit the 24-year-old in his plans for next season, especially if the Irons struggle to find goals this campaign.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
