Everton loanee Nikola Vlasic is thriving in Russia.
Everton thought they had found a diamond in the rough when they landed Nikola Vlasic from Hajduk Split in 2017, having seen him show real promise in Croatia.
Ronald Koeman handed him first-team football before being sacked, and Vlasic went off the radar when Sam Allardyce came in as Everton manager, failing to really make an impression in the second half of the season.
When Marco Silva came in as Everton’s next boss this past summer, Vlasic will have been hoping for a change in fortunes – but instead, he continued to be an outcast at Goodison Park.
Vlasic chose to move out on loan to CSKA Moscow for the season, and the move has paid dividends, with the playmaker notching six goals and three assists in 18 games.
Vlasic has starred in the Champions League, leaving Everton fans to wonder whether he should be at Goodison Park rather than playing elsewhere – and the latest news won’t help matters.
CSKA announced on their official website today that Vlasic has been named CSKA player of the month for a third time time in a row, summing up just how sensational his performance and form have been in Russia.
Everton may be left wondering if they’ve made a mistake loaning him out, but they should still benefit; either they get an improved player back next summer, or have an asset whose value has increased massively for a sale.
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