---
title: "West Ham United: Italian source leaks transfer news involving Nikola Milenkovic"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-milenkovic-transfer-latest-ogbonna/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2021-11-13T13:05:41Z"
modified: "2021-11-13T13:05:41Z"
---

# West Ham United: Italian source leaks transfer news involving Nikola Milenkovic

**As per Italian source [Calciomercato,](https://www.calciomercato.com/news/west-ham-scatto-per-milenkovic-dopo-il-ko-di-ogbonna-16813) there has been a development in West Ham United’s hunt to sign cover for Angelo Ogbonna and it involves Nikola Milenkovic.**

### The Lowdown: West Ham re-join race?

Before the signing of Champions League winner Kurt Zouma in a [£29.8m deal](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/12391116/kurt-zouma-west-ham-sign-france-international-defender-from-chelsea-on-four-year-deal), it was strongly believed that the Fiorentina powerhouse would be on his way to east London.

\[freshpress-poll id=”379970″\]

Indeed, as per other claims from Italy, the Serbia international had his [suitcase ready](https://sportwitness.co.uk/suitcases-now-ready-player-verge-transfer-destination-west-ham/) and was one step away from signing for West Ham at one point in the summer.

However, when talks broke down, Milenkovic ended putting [pen to paper on a one-year contract extension](https://www.acffiorentina.com/en/news/all/news-men-first-team/2021-08-19/milenkovic-signs-new-deal#:~:text=ACF%20Fiorentina%20is%20pleased%20to,young%20defenders%20in%20Serie%20A.) keeping him at Fiorentina until 2023.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375613″\]

That appeared to be that until key centre-half Angelo Ogbonna [injured his ACL](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/12464459/angelo-ogbonna-west-ham-defender-sustains-acl-injury-in-win-over-liverpool) in a 3-2 win over Liverpool last Sunday, prompting manager David Moyes and co to ponder defensive reinforcements for the Hammers ([The Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-january-transfer-window-daniel-kretinsky-b965632.html)).

### The Latest: Hammers ‘forcefully’ return…

As explained by [Calciomercato](https://www.calciomercato.com/news/west-ham-scatto-per-milenkovic-dopo-il-ko-di-ogbonna-16813), West Ham and Moyes ‘forcefully returned’ in a swoop for Milenkovic right after Ogbonna’s cruel blow.

However, his current club consider him ‘untransferable’ in January, thus putting a dampener on transfer chief Rob Newman’s hopes of landing the 24-year-old for Moyes.

Despite Fiorentina’s firm stance, both Roma and AC Milan remain very much in the race.

### The Verdict: Blow…

Milenkovic would have been a solid and cheap alternative to Ogbonna, especially going by his numbers last season compared to West Ham’s colossal defender.

An untouchable in Moyes’ team before being sidelined, having started [every Premier League game](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/23547/History/Angelo-Ogbonna) this year, he would take a lot of replacing but La Viola’s star centre-back fits the bill.

Indeed, Milenkovic outperformed [Ogbonna last season](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/23547/History/Angelo-Ogbonna) in many defensive aspects – averaging a higher rate of top flight tackles, interceptions and aerial duels won per 90 over 2020/21 according to[WhoScored.](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/319785/History/Nikola-Milenkovic)

Lauded as an ‘[extraordinary](https://x-sport.news/fiorentina-lirola-on-milenkovic-extraordinary-quality-ready-for-a-great-team/)‘ player by fellow defender Pol Lirola, his estimated [£22.5m valuation by Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-milenkovic/profil/spieler/413507) seems like a small price to pay.

However, La Viola’s hardline stance on selling him mid-season is undoubtedly a blow, and Moyes may now have to scour for other options over their 6 foot 4 beast.

***In other news: ‘Huge’…Sky Sports pundit thrilled as West Ham eye ‘massive signing’ for Moyes, find out more [here.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-rumours/west-ham-united-paul-robinson-thrilled-as-hammers-eye-jesse-lingard-move/)***