In a recent report, Calciomercato offered an update on West Ham United‘s pursuit of Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic this summer. It has been revealed that the talks between the Hammers and the Florence outfit have frozen but are expected to resume after the 20th of August (via Calciomercato).
Milenkovic’s Decent Run Of Form In Italian Football Last Season
Milenkovic was a solid presence at the heart of the Fiorentina backline in the previous campaign when he produced a series of dominant displays for them at the back. The Serbia international made 37 appearances for the Italian club last season, netting three goals and securing one assist on all fronts.
The Belgrad-born defensive ace proved his worth as a top performer in Florence as he averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 3.6 clearances per 90 minutes in the 2020-21 Serie A campaign. He also took care of the ball when distributing possession from the back based on his pass completion rate of 86% in the Italian first division (stats via whoscored).
The 23-year-old is about to enter his prime, so West Ham can expect to make the most out of his services if they can devise a way to bring him to the London Stadium before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August.
Is Milenkovic The Right Choice For David Moyes’ Side?
Milenkovic can use his strong 1.95m frame to be an unstoppable force in the air and has a knack for making some critical interceptions for his team when in danger of being exposed on the defensive end of the pitch. He can clear his lines when needed and seems to enjoy playing with the ball at his feet.
The 28-time Serbia international is only going to get better with each campaign, so the Hammers would be wise to acquire his services during this summer transfer period. Milenkovic will add plenty of bite and steel to David Moyes’ defensive department and could help the East London giants challenge for a top-six finish in the Premier League over the next few years.
At 23, the Fiorentina star is yet to taste success outside Serbia but could be tempted with a chance to join West Ham as he will have a proper shot at winning a trophy in the coming seasons. Moyes can also use a player of Milenkovic’s skill set which makes him a great choice for the Hammers boss to consider this summer. The Serie A centre-back could go on to form a dominant defensive partnership with Angelo Ogbonna that might be enough to help West Ham pick up a few more wins during the course of this campaign.
