---
title: "Virals: Nikola Milenkovic ‘rejected’ West Ham transfer move"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2022/03/01/virals-nikola-milenkovic-rejected-west-ham-transfer-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2022-03-01T12:00:00Z"
modified: "2022-03-01T12:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: Nikola Milenkovic ‘rejected’ West Ham transfer move

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2022/03/01/pundit-believes-kurt-zouma-is-repaying-faith-shown-by-david-moyes/) target [Nikola Milenkovic](https://readwestham.com/2022/01/10/virals-west-ham-following-fiorentina-defender-nikola-milenkovic/) reportedly ‘rejected’ the opportunity to join the club last summer.

The 24-year-old Fiorentina centre-back was [high on the list of priorities](https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1424708411875340296) for the Hammers and at times it appeared as though a deal was close.

> West Ham are edging closer to a deal with Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic for around £14million
>
> — Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) [August 9, 2021](https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1424708411875340296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

However, the move never materialised and instead, David Moyes [added Kurt Zouma](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/12391116/kurt-zouma-west-ham-sign-france-international-defender-from-chelsea-on-four-year-deal) to the ranks.

Now an interview from journalist Angelo Giorgetti in [TuttoJuve](https://www.tuttojuve.com/primo-piano/esclusiva-tj-giorgetti-la-nazione-contestazione-no-stop-per-vlahovic-la-juve-ha-acquistato-un-marziano-fiorentina-in-crescita-su-milenkovic-591416) has claimed that the Serbian international was the one who pulled the plug on the switch.

> I can only say that Milenkovic is a high-level defender who rejected West Ham last summer – the deal was practically done – and is very close to Vlahovic.

Since seemingly turning down the opportunity to arrive at the London Stadium, Milenkovic has earned an impressive [7.06 average Sofascore rating](https://www.sofascore.com/player/nikola-milenkovic/836168) from 22 Serie A outings this season.

Overall, the [32-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-milenkovic/nationalmannschaft/spieler/413507/verein_id/3438) ace has [scored three times in 26 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-milenkovic/leistungsdaten/spieler/413507) across all competitions for Vincenzo Italiano’s side in 2021/22.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Valued at £20.7million and under contract in Florence until 2023 ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-milenkovic/marktwertverlauf/spieler/413507)), signing the Serb still remains a possibility in the future.

Already an [experienced operator](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-milenkovic/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/413507) at the top level, Milenkovic is expected to move onto a new challenge sooner rather than later.

Given the uncertainty of Angelo Ogbonna’s recovery and return, Irons’ boss David Moyes would be wise to consider another swoop for the [powerful](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/319785/Show/Nikola-Milenkovic) defender.