West Ham United will come up against a long-term target in the UEFA Conference League final but Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic is distancing himself from those transfer rumours.
The presence of the towering Serbia international at the heart of Vincenzo Italiano’s backline could provide another intriguing subplot in an enthralling final between two teams starved of silverware.
West Ham United, nerves jangling ahead of their first European final in nearly 50 years, have tried to sign one of Fiorentina’s key players on a number of occasions during David Moyes’ second spell at the helm.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Nikola Milenkovic even agreed terms with the Hammers. The deal was pretty much ‘done’ before it collapsed at the last minute in September 2021.
West Ham, Sky Sports add, were willing to spend £14 million on the 6ft 5ins centre-half.
Not that Milenkovic was willing to get too bogged down in all that; his focus solely on ensuring that the UEFA Conference League trophy stays in Italy 12 months after Roma defeated Feyenoord in the inaugural final.
West Ham nearly signed Fiorentina ace Nikola Milenkovic
“Every transfer market talks a lot,” Milenkovic tells Tuttomercatoweb when asked if he had ever come ‘close’ to joining West Ham. “But I’ve been here for six years. I’ve renewed (my contract) twice.
“I’m happy to be here, and I won’t add anything else.”
A massive figure in both boxes – Milenkovic has scored nearly 20 Fiorentina goals since the start of 2018/19 – the Serbian powerhouse is likely to have a big part to play in the Czech capital.
“Now, I’m at the peak (of my fitness),” he adds. “And I’m very ready for (the final)
“West Ham awaits us. A powerful and fast team, they have very strong, physical players. We will have to stay on track but we too have our strengths. We must believe in ourselves and we must be ambitious.”
With West Ham scouring the market for centre-halves – Jonathan Tah and Harry Maguire among those linked – could Milenkovic find himself back in the gossip columns this summer if he catches the eye tonight?
“He has all the characteristics to play in England. (Milenkovic has the) perfect physical characteristics for West Ham,” says Gianluca Nani; the Italian director who spent two years working behind the scenes at Upton Park from 2008 to 2010.
“I see him as excellent for the Hammers. They should look for him.”
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