What are we going to do about Nikola Vlašić ?
Bought for £25 million in 2021 on a five year deal, he plays only 19 games and then is farmed off to the Serie A side Torino. A classic example of West Ham`s sometimes disastrous recruit policy, which hopefully will be a thing of the past when our new technical director Tim Steidten takes up the reins.
I digress. Vlašić has always been highly thought of, indeed he made The Guardian’s Next Generation list in 2015. An attacking midfielder who you would have thought would have made a fine addition to the Hammers ranks.
But now currently on loan at Torino, there appears to be a deadlock in him making the move permanent.
Quite rightly the Hammers are holding out for a chance to recoup at least a goodly portion of what they originally shelled out.
But the point is ,much like the case with Gianluca Scamacca , we really must process more due diligence on prospective transfer targets to avoid needless cash losses. This is presumably why Tim Steidten has been appointed.
A touch of shutting the stable gate once the horse has bolted?
I too thought Vlasic would become a valuable member of the squad, he just didn’t get he chances IMHO.