
Champions League club have their eye on West Ham flop
A report out of Italy has claimed that West Ham transfer flop Nikola Vlasic could be signed by a Serie A giant.
Vlasic joined the Hammers for £26.8m from CSKA Moscow last year, but he never seemed to settle in east London.
As a result of his limited Premier League appearances, he was loaned out to Torino this summer.
Last season, the £70k-per-week dud only managed one goal and three assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, but has hit the ground running with three goals in seven Serie A matches and appears to have impressed his Turin employers.
According to Calciomercato Torino club president, Urbano Cairo is pondering whether to excercise their £13.5m option to buy the Croatian after his impressive start to life with the side.
However, a report from Calcio Napoli 24 (via Sport Witness) has now said that ‘Napoli may be a club to keep an eye on’ when it comes to the 24-year-old’s next club.
According to the report, the Champions League participants are “long-term admirers” of the midfielder.
It claims that former manager Gennaro Gattuso pushed for a move back in 2020, but CSKA Moscow refused to negotiate.
The Azzurri followed the 41-cap Croatia international before he joined West Ham, and when David Moyes tried to offload him this summer, Napoli ‘knocked again.’
However, after discussions with the manager and compatriot Ivan Juric, Vlasic decided to join Torino.
That decision is said to have ‘displeased’ Napoli, but they are still tracking the former Everton man in preparation for a possible move next summer.
Competition would undoubtedly help the east Londoners recoup as much of their transfer fee as possible, and while Vlasic appears to be enjoying life in Turin, the lure of Champions League football could tempt him to move to Naples.
Especially, with Luciano Spalletti’s side currently top of the Serie A and fighting for honours.