Fyodor Smolov made a mistake when he turned down a move to the Premier League with West Ham United before the 2018 Russia World Cup.
That is according to Sekou Traore, an agent who was heavily involved in the discussions which might have taken the striker to the London Stadium six years ago.
Fyodor Smolov, at the time, was one of the biggest stars in Russian football, expected to make quite the name for himself across the continent during that summer’s World Cup on home soil.
But after losing his place in the Russia XI and missing a penalty during the quarter-final defeat to Croatia, the interest in the then-Krasnodar talisman quickly died down, Smolov living to regret his West Ham snub in the years since.
West Ham United missed out on Fyodor Smolov
“Fyodor Smolov’s transfer to West Ham before the 2018 World Cup, I received an offer from an English club and discussed it with Fyodor’s agent, German Tkachenko,” Traore tells MatchTV.
“At first, West Ham offered £10 million, but Krasnodar refused. The next offer was £11 million. Krasnodar again refused because they wanted to £14 or 15 million.
“Smolov, at this time, believed that he could receive an offer from a more eminent club from Europe. At that time, Fedor was 28 years old. The ideal age to leave at the peak of his form.
“But he refused – and I was offended. Later, in an interview, he admitted that he regretted refusing the offer from West Ham.”
Now 34, Smolov would never recapture that pre-World Cup form, struggling in Spain with Celta Vigo before returning to Russia with Dinamo Moscow. A potential move to Everton also failed to materialise after Pavel Kucherov – who was working as a scout at Goodison Park at the time – advised The Toffees against signing a man who won the Russian Premier League Golden Boot twice in both 2016 and 2017.
Now back in Russia aged 34
“Fyodor wanted to go to Europe after the World Cup. He thought that he prove show himself at the tournament and go to some top club. But we all know how the World Cup in Russia ended for him,” adds Traore.
“When you get a chance in football, you have to take it. Today, there is an offer. Tomorrow, it may no longer exist. It’s a shame that Fyodor didn’t move to West Ham then.”
West Ham could dip into the striker market again this summer with Michail Antonio no longer the force of old. HITC Football understands there is also interest in a number of wide players, including Fiorentina starlet Michael Kayode and Juventus’ England under-21 international Samuel Iling-Junior.
The post 'West Ham offered £11m': Agent disappointed striker turned down Hammers move, says it's 'a shame' appeared first on HITC.
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