Nikola Vlasic has told CSKA Moscow that he wants to join Premier League leaders West Ham United and was left out of the starting XI for Thursday’s clash with Zenit St Petersburg, as reported by Championat.
For Everton supporters, the sight of Vlasic running Scotland ragged at the Euro 2020 group-stages was not an easy one to stomach.
The Croatia international started just seven Premier League games for the Toffees before being farmed out to CSKA Moscow; one of the most exciting young attacking midfielders in Europe getting lost amid the constant churn and relentless upheaval during the early years of the Farhad Moshiri tenure.
Just to season those wounds with an artery-clogging amount of salt, Vlasic could soon be on his way back to England, desperate to prove that Everton were wrong to let him go.
Will Everton’s loss be West Ham’s gain?
According to the Mail, West Ham have entered talks with the 23-year-old play-maker.
Russian giants CSKA Moscow will not stand in his way either, provided someone pays the £25 million required for a man who has hit 33 goals across the last three seasons from central midfield.
“Everyone knows the situation around Nikola. He has said more than once he wants to start playing at a higher level,” CSKA coach Aleksei Beresutski confirmed a few weeks ago.
“This is completely normal. But Vlasic and his entourage must understand you have to pay for his transfer. Vlasic costs money – and not a small amount. “
A warning, then, to West Ham. Pay up or don’t bother.
According to Championat, Vlasic would welcome the chance to join a Hammers side who have won both of their games so far this season, topping the table while comfortably outscoring everyone else in the division.
Vlasic was dropped from the starting XI for CSKA’s crunch clash with Zenit last night too, after informing the club of his desire to join David Moyes’ West Ham side. Only coming off the bench in the second half when the Moscow giants were chasing an equaliser that would never arrive.
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