Niclas Fullkrug is proving West Ham right at AC Milan despite growing problem
West Ham decided to let Niclas Fullkrug leave on loan this winter, and it’s not looking like a bad decision.
After failing to score in any of his nine total appearances during the first half of this season, West Ham were ready to move on from Fullkrug in the winter window.
Indeed, the 33-year-old striker simply hadn’t been able to take to life in English football since signing for the Hammers from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2024.
He’s bagged just three goals in 29 total outings for the Irons, and Nuno Espirito Santo was evidently willing to get him off the books this winter to help pave the way for Taty Castellanos and Pablo to join.
AC Milan were the side to secure his signature, with Fullkrug signing on loan with the Serie A giants for the remainder of the season, whilst Milan also have the option to sign him permanently in the summer for around £12million.
Niclas Fullkrug’s Milan form is causing West Ham issue
That’s a significant and respectable fee for Fullkrug given his age and production, and West Ham chiefs will no doubt be crossing their fingers that Milan trigger that option.
However, the German international is probably not giving his parent club the best chance of banking that fee for him this summer, as he’s not enjoying life in Italy since his move.
In nine Serie A appearances for Milan so far, Fullkrug has scored just once, providing no assists in that time either, and has only started in one of those games.
Fullkrug also missed a penalty in Milan’s 2-1 win over Pisa on 13 February, which has only compounded his Serie A nightmare so far.
As such, he certainly isn’t finding the kind of form that would make Milan want to sign him permanently, and if so, then that leaves a significant problem for West Ham this summer.
At 33 and potentially coming off the back of a fairly disastrous loan with Milan, you would have to question whether any club would want to come and pay a sizeable fee to take Fullkrug off the Hammers’ hands.
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Fullkrug’s contract situation isn’t helping either
Had Fullkrug been scheduled to become a free agent this summer, or even next summer, then West Ham chiefs certainly wouldn’t be losing sleep over Fullkrug’s Milan form.
However, they are now perhaps regretting inking him to a four-year contract back in August 2024, as he would return to them this summer with two years still to run on his deal.
Sure to be on a decent wage packet too, the big striker could hand the Irons a huge financial problem if they are to be relegated from the Premier League to the Championship.
Therefore, everyone connected with West Ham should be hoping that Fullkrug can turn is Milan form around, as if not, he’s surely going to be heading back to the London Stadium this summer.
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