West Ham United gave Nikola Vlasic a contract worth in excess of £100k-a-week following the Croatian winger’s Deadline Day transfer from CSKA Moscow, according to 90min.
The Hammers added what they hoped was one of the final pieces to David Moyes’ puzzle for the first half of the season on Tuesday. Vlasic followed Kurt Zouma and Alphonse Areola in moving to the London Stadium, while 2020/21 loanee Craig Dawson signed permanently.
Alex Kral also joined the Irons on loan from Spartak Moscow on Deadline Day, going from Vlasic’s rival to teammate. West Ham paid CSKA an initial £27m for Vlasic, in a deal that could reach £35m with potential add-ons met.
Vlasic agreed to a five-year contract with West Ham that features an option to extend the 23-year-old’s stay by 12-months. 90min now claim the deal is worth more than £100k-p/w, instantly making him one of the top-earners in east London.
The 27-cap forward could make his Hammers debut when Moyes’ London Stadium outfit travel to Southampton on September 11. If Vlasic features at St Mary’s, it would be his 13th Premier League appearance after 12 with Everton during 2017/18.
Vlasic failed to score or provide a top-flight assist with the Toffees before joining CSKA in 2018, initially on loan. The Split native rediscovered his creativity in Russia, with 28 goals and 16 assists in 86 Premier Liga outings.
Although the attacking midfielder only offered five assists in each of his three complete seasons at VEB Arena. Instead, shining with his shooting boots, netting 12 and 11 goals in 2019/20 and ‘20/21 respectively following a £14m move.
Where does Vlasic now rank in West Ham’s wage bill?
Vlasic earning more than £100k-p/w likely makes the Deadline Day arrival West Ham’s third best-paid player, per Spotrac figures. Zouma and Andriy Yarmolenko are the only ones also earning six-figure salaries at the London Stadium. With Kral’s salary yet to be reported.
Reports by The Athletic claim Zouma pushed for an increase on his £125k-p/w deal to leave Chelsea this summer. Only Yarmolenko was on six-figures before the Frenchman and Vlasic joined at £115k-p/w, allegedly ahead of £96k-p/w Jarrod Bowen.
Michail Antonio, Manuel Lanzini, Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid are all said to be on £70k-p/w. While Pablo Fornals, Tomas Soucek plus Issa Diop supposedly earn £67k-p/w, Lukasz Fabianski £65k-p/w, and Aaron Cresswell plus Mark Noble both make £50k-p/w.
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