da bet vitoria： David Moyes’ hope of bringing Luka Jovic to West Ham United have been dealt a major setback with reports Real Madrid will not greenlight a January move for the outcast striker.
What’s the word?
da dobrowin： According to Defensa Central, Jovic is enduring an unstable and uncomfortable time at the Santiago Bernabeu with Zinedine Zidane often overlooking his services, but the door to a mid-season move has been slammed shut.
Reports had surfaced suggesting the Irons were looking to rival Leicester City in pursuit of the Serbian centre-forward, with Moyes considering a loan bid that features an option to buy Los Blancos’ £52.4million signing next summer.
The Galacticos are currently opposed to allowing Jovic to leave the Spanish capital in the winter market, however, as they wish to afford the 22-year-old further opportunities to build on his mere two goals scored across all competitions since joining in 2019.
Real had considered offloading Jovic during the summer window and are said to have come very close to doing so, as the former Eintracht Frankfurt sensation is desperate to play more frequently and does not feel those opportunities will occur under Zidane’s watch.
The French icon has awarded Jovic just 201 minutes of first-team football this season, and opted to ignore the 8-cap international in his side’s last four fixtures as Real claimed victories over FC Barcelona, Borussia Monchengladbach, SD Huesca and Inter Milan.
Madrid’s stance could yet alter with it added that Los Blancos chiefs are offering a non-committal response when questioned over Jovic’s future, stating: “At the moment we do not contemplate any exit, but until January anything can happen.”
It remains to be seen if the door re-opens for Jovic to leave the Santiago Bernabeu, but for now Real are dealing a hammer blow to Moyes’ hopes of making the Serbian an Irons player.
Never give up
Real Madrid’s non-committal response to questions over Jovic’s future should see that Moyes does not give up on his hopes of adding the centre-forward to the squad in east London come the New Year, as the 22-year-old’s outcast role can easily see that he pushes for a move away.
Jovic joined Los Blancos with eyes of achieving success in Spain after lighting up the Bundesliga with 17 goals in 32 appearances, including a five-goal haul against Fortuna Dusseldorf plus braces against FC Schalke 04 and 1.FSV Mainz 05.
His efforts saw that Frankfurt CEO of Sport Fredi Bobic was far from surprised to see clubs lining up to sign the young sensation, stating via Bundesliga.com: “He’s been the talk of Europe. He’s explosive and a real threat in front of goal and will be a big miss.”
Jovic will clearly not be a big miss for Madrid given his form and lack of game time under Zidane, but Moyes’ need for offensive depth will ensure that opportunities are forthcoming with Sebastien Haller boasting just three Premier League goals in 2020.
Haller and Jovic enjoyed a strong relationship in Germany, too, as the Frenchman assisted three of the Serbian’s Bundesliga goals in 2018/19, as he ended the campaign with a hand in 24 goals (15 scored, nine assisted) – something Moyes desperately needs from Manuel Pellegrini’s £45m capture.
AND in other news, a Manuel Pellegrini flop has been dubbed a “big disappointment” in a further blow to West Ham.