West Ham United playmaker Nikola Vlasic has had a season of regular gametime playing for Serie A side Torino on loan this season.
The Croatian international was sent out on loan by the Hammers in the summer with Irons boss David Moyes having no clear route of regular minutes for him this season, especially after spending around £160million on eight new signings at the start of the campaign.
Since Vlasic’s move to Turin, he has played in 23 of Torino’s 27 Serie A matches, only missing four in a row across February and March due to a hamstring issue, which he has now recovered from.
READ MORE : Italy ‘make decision’ over West Ham’s Gianluca Scamacca ahead of England fixture
As part of the deal that saw Vlasic leave on loan, an agreement was included that meant it would be possible for the 25-year-old to sign for Torino permanently at the end of the season, just two years after his arrival at the London Stadium.
Reports from Calciomercato (as published by Sport Witness ) are saying that while Torino boss Ivan Juric, also Croatian, is keen on signing Vlasic permanently, a big factor could be down to whether or not the manager stays at the club beyond the end of this season himself.
Before signing fresh terms, it is believed that Juric wants to know what his squad will look like next season before putting pen to paper.
The report suggests that Juric wants both Vlasic and attacking midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk (currently on loan from Atalanta, to sign permanently, although the double move is set to cost around €27million (£23.9million), especially being already set to spend €17million (£15.1million) to sign midfielder Ivan Ilic and forward Nemanja Radonjic permanently from Hellas Verona and Marseille respectively.
Because of that, while it is said that Torino club president Urbano Cairo and director of football Davide Vagnati are open to permanent moves for both Vlasic and Miranchuk, attempting cheaper moves for both are being considered in order to sign the players Juric wants but for a fee more in keeping with the club’s transfer budget. It has been reported that a fee of €15million (£13.3million)
Vlasic has scored four goals in 23 Serie A matches this season, although three of them came in his first five games, having scored only once in the league since a 1-0 win over Lecce at the start of September.
In a West Ham shirt, Vlasic played 31 times for the Hammers in all competitions last term following his reported €30million (plus add-ons) arrival, scoring one goal.
He is also currently on international duty with Croatia ahead of their 2024 European Championship qualifiers against Wales and Turkey, having helped his country reach the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in December.
READ NEXT
Terem Moffi, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sean Moore - How West Ham's January transfer targets have fared
David Moyes sent message over West Ham’s Gianluca Scamacca amid recent form and Italy call-up
Latest on Vladimir Coufal’s injury after West Ham man’s surprise Czech Republic call-up
Manny Longelo opens up on West Ham frustration and Mark Noble story after Birmingham City switch
Why Wolves were forced into drastic measures during thumping defeat by West Ham's youngsters
