Manager says he still wants £11m West Ham ace after two bids rejected

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Torino coach Ivan Juric has admitted he still hopes to bring Nikola Vlasic back to Serie A from Premier League outfit West Ham United. 

The feeling, it seems, is mutual.

According to Tuttosport, West Ham United’s seldom-seen Croatia international has left David Moyes and new technical director Tim Steidten under no illusions about his desire to leave the London Stadium and return to a Torino side where he impressed so vividly on loan during the 2022/23 season. 

Unfortunately for Nikola Vlasic – and compatriot Juric – there remains some distance in the valuations of both clubs. 

West Ham are holding out for £11 million. Torino’s two bids so far, however, have landed in the £6 million and £9 million bracket. 

West Ham struggling to agree Torino deal for Nikola Vlasic

As quoted by Tuttosport, Juric was quizzed by a young Torino supporter during the club’s training camp this week, with the prospect of Vlasic’s return one of the questions asked of the Granata boss. 

“I hope so!” Juric quipped when the prospect of a second spell in Italy for Vlasic was brought up.

The former Everton benchwarmer, who joined West Ham for a cool £25 million after shining at CSKA Moscow, scored five goals and set up eight more for Torino last term.

“Nikola is happy at Toro,” Vlasic’s agent Tonci Martic told Sport Italia earlier in the summer. “I hope he grows together with Torino. Manager Juric is very important for his career.

“It is difficult to say whether he will stay or not. It depends on the two clubs. Everything is still open.” 

Torino are, at least, just £2 million away from meeting West Ham’s asking price these days. Frustration is growing in Vlasic’s camp, however, with Torino’s Serie A opener at home to newly-promoted Cagliari now just three weeks’ away.

West Ham, meanwhile, have had a £25 million bid for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse rejected. Moyes is no closer to finding a Declan Rice replacement with deals for Denis Zakaria and Edson Alvarez going cold.