WEST HAM are considering a move for CSKA Moscow star Nikola Vlasic if their pursuit of Jesse Lingard falls through.
The Hammers have started to look elsewhere as it’s looking increasingly likely that Lingard will remain at Old Trafford this season.
And David Moyes’ side view Vlasic as the ideal alternative to the United attacker, according to The Telegraph.
Lingard spent last season with the Hammers and impressed Moyes with nine goals and four assists in 16 starts.
The Scotsman had been keen to make Lingard’s move permanent but West Ham aren’t willing to pay United’s asking price of £25million.
As the transfer window’s end looms and both clubs refuse to budge in negotiations, Vlasic could be the Hammer’s salvation.
Plus United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted that he wants Lingard at the club this term to boost his squad’s strength.
He said: “Adding these extra players – Jesse coming back, Jadon [Sancho] coming in.
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“Anthony [Martial] being fit again – gives us a lot more to work with.”
If West Ham do bring the Crotian attacking midfielder to East London, it will be his second stint in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old’s first spell with Everton didn’t go too well and he was shipped out on loan to CSKA after just one season.
Vlasic signed a five-year deal with the Toffees when he joined from Hajduk Split in August 2017 for £10million.
But the club’s ex-boss Marco Silva was far from impressed with Vlasic’s talents during his debut season.
In which he scored twice and made one assist in 19 matches for the Merseyside club.
But it worked out fine for the Toffees in the end as they recouped their investment and made a profit on Vlasic when CSKA paid £14m for him in 2019.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
