West Ham United have reportedly turned down the chance to sign a midfielder likened to Luka Modric. A midfielder with two league winner’s medals on his CV, and rated as the league’s Player of the Season for 2024/25.
The question is, why?
Why did West Ham United not bite when Martin Baturina was offered to them in a potential £20 million summer deal?
Well, the criticism from experienced Croatian football agent Marko Naletilic may shed a light on a decision which is bound to infuriate sections of a fanbase desperate not only for some exciting summer additions, but also an injection of creativity into a sterile midfield.
West Ham have confirmed the departure of Carlos Soler already. The Hammers will not take up their option to sign the Paris Saint-Germain loanee for £16 million, with Brighton and Hove Albion reportedly keen to keep Soler in the Premier League.
Lucas Paqueta could return to Brazil with Flamengo while Chelsea opened discussions over Mohammed Kudus a few days ago. As such, a West Ham team already over-reliant on Jarrod Bowen’s brilliance may soon find themselves operating without arguably three of their four most creative talents.
Yet, Claret and Hugh reports that manager Graham Potter is prepared to overlook Baturina in favour of a more athletic, physically-imposing option.
Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images
Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images
Agent Marko Naletilic sheds light on West Ham United’s Martin Baturina snub
West Ham appear well-placed to land Richard Rios from Palmeiras for instance. Talks with Club Brugge over Raphael Onyedika are progressing, too. Both players would bring with them a real presence, on and off the ball, as well as the sort of tenacity, drive and running power Potter is crying out for.
For all of the £20 million-rated Baturina’s talent, a diminutive, 5ft 8ins playmaker certainly does not excel in the physical side of things.
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And finer footballers than him – take Soler, for instance – have struggled to adapt to the hurly-burly nature of Premier League football.
“If we look at his talent, he is definitely worth 20 million euros,” Naletilic tells T Portal. “He played great in the first part of the season but, in the second, the situation changed. A lot of things have to match up around Baturina.”
This week, Inter Milan completed the £12 million signing of Baturina’s Dinamo Zagreb teammate, Petar Sucic.
Naletilic believes that Baturina is the more naturally gifted of the two.
However, in an era where old-school, at-their-own-pace playmakers are often pushed to the periphery by athletic, box-crashing number eights like Kevin de Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes, there are reservations about whether the Zurich-born Baturina can really make the grade at the top level.
“If we compare him to Sucić, Martin is more talented. But it will be much easier for Petar to fit into any team,” adds Naletilic, who’s DWMA agency represents the likes of Wesley Fofana, Elye Wahi and the West Ham-linked Burnley defender Maxime Esteve.
“Baturina is limited because many teams do not need a player of such a profile.”
Baturina ‘under fire’ as Dinamo Zagreb star must improve his defensive issues
It remains to be seen if Baturina, who was named the Croatian league’s best performer for 2024/25 by Sofascore, can adapt to the rigours of the modern game like the man he has so frequently been compared to; Real Madrid icon Luka Modric.
Croatian publication Telesport argue that there are currently far too many gaps in Baturina’s game to justify a £20 million outlay from the likes of West Ham United.
“Dinamo’s midfielder has long been under fire,” they write. “The impression is that he has not made any progress in his performances.
“He is still great at playmaking and has impeccable technique, but he has not yet worked on his weaknesses. The most notable of these is his defensive play, which is far below satisfactory, and this was most evident under [Italy legend and former Dinamo Zagreb boss] Fabio Cannavaro.
“The Italian insisted on high pressing. A demand that Baturina did not meet. His running without the ball is quite poor, and the same applies to his positioning in the defensive phase. To make matters worse, in some matches he looked disinterested and did not give the impression of a player who is truly giving his best.
Therefore, the criticisms against Baturina are justified.”