:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62742738/1072216342.jpg.0.jpg)
Nikola Vlasic has hit a purple patch since his loan move to CSKA Moscow at the beginning of this season, and while his camp has been expressing their desire to make the move permanent at the end of the season, the club has finally made an official statement regarding their interest as well.
Signed at the beginning of the 2017-18 season by Ronald Koeman, Vlasic struggled to make an impact at Everton. Often played out of position along with a number of other players during last season’s debacle, the 21-year-old has shown his mettle at the highest level playing in the number 10 role for CSKA this season.
Vlasic has already picked up seven goals and four assists for the Russian side in 20 Premier Liga and Champions League appearances, with the club President Roman Babayev telling Russian media source Sports.ru that they will be holding talks over the player’s future with the Toffees.
“Any communication with [Everton] is informal at the moment. But for us, the most important part is Nikola’s position. He would very much like to stay at CSKA.
“We understand that there are many clubs that would buy Vlasic right now. But until the summer the rental deal protects us.
“We will talk to them but business is business and if they receive a good offer why would they choose CSKA over another club? So the story is not easy. It is obviously unlikely that CSKA can pay the amount that is discussed in the press at the moment. Everton paid £10million for Vlasic.
“They need at least that money to recapture the transfer. Furthermore, Nikola receives a lot of attention.”
Vlasic appeared to hold no interest for Marco Silva, who picked Kieran Dowell to stay at the Blues instead of the Croatian at the beginning of the season. However, Dowell appears to not be ready for the upper levels of the game yet, and could go out on loan this January, which could possibly bring Vlasic back into the conversation for next season, but the player’s choice might also come into play.
More to come on this one, it appears.