Niclas Fullkrug to follow Nuno Espirito Santo template as West Ham lifeline now ready
Niclas Fullkrug has come under heavy scrutiny since his big-money move to West Ham.
Fullkrug joined West Ham from Borussia Dortmund for £27million after playing in the Champions League final the season before.
There were high expectations for the Germany international, but Fullkrug has been poor for West Ham ever since moving to the London Stadium.
Hopes have now been reignited in East London with the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo at West Ham.
Nuno has a record of working miracles with forwards and Fullkrug could be next on the production line under the 51-year-old.
Niclas Fullkrug could replicate Chris Wood at West Ham
Fullkrug has dealt with injury concerns at West Ham, but is now fit and looks to be the go-to man under the new head coach.
The claret and blue faithful are excited to see what the ex-Wolves boss can get out of the 32-year-old moving forward.
Nuno was able to transform Chris Wood into a goal machine last season at Nottingham Forest, something he will be hopeful of replicating in East London.
Premier League top goalscorers (2024-25):
- Mohamed Salah – 29
- Alexander Isak – 23
- Erling Haaland – 22
- Chris Wood – 20
There are already many similarities between the two that could make life easy for the Hammers boss.
Wood and Fullkrug compared directly in key statistics across the 2024-25 campaign, including big chances created, key passes, possession won in the final third, and aerial duels won per 90 minutes.
This is direct proof that the German can become a replica of the Forest star, but there are elements of his game that need improvement.
Wood takes his chances, Fullkrug doesn’t
The biggest problem with the former Werder Bremen forward is that he hasn’t been good enough as a frontman for the Irons.
Fullkrug only scored three goals last season, equating to one every 263 minutes – a record that is far from good enough for an experienced number nine.
Wood scored every 149 minutes by comparison, but he also took one more shot per 90 with a conversion rate of 29 per cent compared to the West Ham man’s 19.
It isn’t coincidental that the striker who takes more strikes on goal scores more goals, a lesson that Fullkrug could certainly learn from.
The man signed from Dortmund could also benefit from replicating Wood’s heatmap, as the 33-year-old focuses his efforts closer to the centre of the pitch.
This focus allows him to be in a prime position to score goals, while the Germans’ work is spread across a broader area that is clearly less effective.
It is now Nuno’s task to help bring out the best in Fullkrug, and he has the perfect blueprint to do exactly that.
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