Former Croatia international Sasa Bjelanovic has encouraged Nikola Vlasic to join AC Milan following a big bid from Premier League leaders West Ham United, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.
After three years in the Russian capital, it is no secret that Vlasic wants to leave his Northern European home in order to prove himself at a higher level.
CSKA coach Alexei Berezustki admitted as much a few weeks ago.
The problem is, in this strained market-place, finding someone willing to pay the £25 million required is proving to be a bit of an issue for Vlasic’s overworked representatives.
The midfielder’s agent has offered him to some of Serie A’s big hitters, including AC Milan and Napoli.
So far, however, the only offer on the table appears to be from West Ham United.
Is Nikola Vlasic returning to the Premier League?
According to Eurostavka, The Hammers have offered £23 million for a forceful, free-scoring playmaker who could fill Jesse Lingard’s boots at the London Stadium.
Bjelanovic, however, believes that the San Siro may be the ideal destination for Vlasic, especially after a baby-faced Rossoneri squad (the youngest in Serie A last season) finished third in the table and qualified for the Champions League.
“When he went to Everton, he was very young, even though he already had a hundred matches (at Hajduk Split),” Bjelanovic says of a man who started just seven Premier League games in Everton colours before being sold for £13 million.
“After CSKA, he seems more mature to me. He is only 23 years old but with a lot of experience behind him. In this humbler Milan side, he could fit in very well.”
Vlasic, the Russian Premier League Player of the Year in 2020, produced 12 goals and six assists last season with his best moment in CSKA colours arguably coming during a shock 3-0 trouncing of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabau nearly three years ago.
West Ham have also been linked with a Ligue 1 champion as they look to move on from Lingard at the London Stadium.
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