How Lazio feel about signing Niclas Fullkrug as West Ham outcast plays his cards

Niclas Fullkrug is trying everything to force through a move away from West Ham United.

The 33-year-old doesn't feature in Nuno Espirito Santo's plans at the London Stadium.

Having joined the Hammers in the summer of 2024 from Borussia Dortmund, he was expected to be a quality addition to the forward line.

After all, the 24-cap German international had scored 15 goals and provided 11 assists for Dortmund in the 2023-24 season, in what was one of best individual campaigns of his career.

Unfortunately, things just haven't worked out for him at all in E20, with his stock plummeting even further after a hugely disappointing loan spell with AC Milan last season.

However, it doesn't appear that everyone in Serie A has given up on him, with one of Italy's biggest clubs now emerging a serious contender for his signature.

What Niclas Fullkrug is willing to do to earn Lazio move

West Ham Zone has long been following Fullkrug's heavily mooted West Ham transfer exit.

Finding a dance partner to do business with, however, has been proving extremely difficult for the Hammers, and thus he's still their player.

With the new season now not far away at all, Fullkrug is facing the genuine possibility of being stranded at the London Stadium until the January window at least.

But, according to a report from Corriere dello Sport, Lazio have been offered the chance to sign Fullkrug this summer.

The striker is claimed to be willing to take a significant pay cut from his £2.9million annual salary in order to get a deal done with the Italians.

Lazio are so far said to have turned that offer down, with their manager in legendary midfielder Gennaro Gattuso claimed to be looking for a quick centre-forward.

Fullkrug obviously doesn't fit that profile, but with another top Serie A side seemingly interested, it begs the question of whether his loan spell with Milan was perhaps better than his one goal in 20 games record suggests?

Why Fullkrug's underlying numbers may surprise West Ham fans

Fullkrug does have some strong goalscoring pedigree on his CV, and has represented some big clubs during his career.

But with just four competitive goals scored since the 2024-25 season, his best days in front of goal seem to be long behind him.

As such, it does appear strange to see him linked with such a massive club like Lazio, but his underlying numbers for AC Milan last season paint a far better picture of his time there than his goal record does.

As per FotMob, Fullkrug ranked in the top 4.8 percentile of Serie A strikers in 2025-26 for his 0.56 big chances created and 1.95 clearances per 90 minutes.

He also placed in the leading 11.9 per cent for his 0.54 expected goals (xG) per game, as well as the top 16.7 percentile with his 6.54 touches in the opposition box per 90.

Clearly then, Fullkrug was getting into plenty of goalscoring positions for Milan last term, but for whatever reason, wasn't able to convert many more times than he ultimately did.

Lazio may see this as a bargain opportunity to sign a striker who if he can repeat those numbers for them, but actually convert them into goals, could be one of the shrewdest signings of the Serie A summer transfer window.