Torino are already considering taking up their option to buy West Ham United midfielder Nikola Vlasic in January. The Croatian has left Il Toro very impressed since joining on loan.
That is according to Calciomercato, which reports the Serie A outfit are very satisfied with what the 25-year-old has so far produced. So much so, in fact, that Torino are now starting to give thought to bringing forward his likely permanent transfer to the Olimpico di Torino.
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West Ham agreed to give Torino an option to buy Vlasic for €15m (£13m) as part of a one-year loan. He moved to the Piedmont natives in August having failed to live up to his price tag in east London. The Hammers paid CSKA Moscow an initial €30m (£27m) a year earlier.
Vlasic has rediscovered his creativity since joining Torino on loan from West Ham
Vlasic’s move to the London Stadium also featured add-ons totalling €9m (£8m). Yet David Moyes would only start the 41-cap Croatia international over six of his 19 Premier League appearances. Vlasic additionally only managed to score one goal and failed to create any.
His two assists in claret-and-blue came during Europa League and Carabao Cup ties. Vlasic started six of West Ham’s first seven fixtures in the UEFA Competition but did not feature beyond their last 16 first-leg tie. He watched their remaining five matches from the bench.
Yet Vlasic has rediscovered his creative touch in Italy with three goals in nine appearances for Torino. The Split native will look to end his four-match run without a goal when Il Toro host Juventus on Saturday. He is also yet to lay on an assist in Serie A across 764 minutes.
Il Toro are already considering taking up their option to buy the playmaker
Vlasic’s displays have left Torino very impressed since joining on loan from West Ham late in the summer. So, il Toro are already considering taking up their option to buy the 5 ft 10 playmaker in January. An early deal may premeditate a more lucrative sale in the summer.
According to reports by Tuttosport last month, Torino already feel Vlasic has increased his value since leaving West Ham. Olimpico di Torino chiefs feel his form in Serie A could merit a €25m (£22m) price tag. They also believe his value could return to €30m by the summer.
Torino president Urbano Cairo has also already been lavish with his praise for the attacking midfielder. The Toro chief told DAZN, as quoted by Calciomercato, in September that Vlasic had been ‘spectacular’. He also felt the Irons loanee showed ‘great quality and intelligence’.
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