Niclas Fullkrug now set for West Ham United medical as full transfer agreement reached
West Ham are signing Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund after a full agreement was reached over a permanent transfer, Florian Plettenberg reports.
The Sky Sports Germany journalist reported via X late on 2 August that the two sides are set to clarify the final details on bonuses the same night but a €30million [£25.6m] deal has been reached and the German is now set for a Hammers medical.
Tim Steidten reportedly led the negotiations with manager Julen Lopetegui pushing for the 31-year-old who will join with “immediate effect”.
The breakdown of the deal is for a €26m fee up front [£22.2m] with a further €4m coming in add-ons [£3.4m], as Fullkrug heads to the London Stadium after a year in Dortmund.
Tim Steidten lands West Ham striker for Julen Lopetegui
The big gap at the top of the line-up was arguably the biggest area of need heading into the transfer window, with the possible exception of the wide areas.
The latter has been dealt with through the early arrival of Luis Guilherme and the imminent Crysencio Summerville signing from Leeds, but for all the progress elsewhere the side would have been lacking without a new goalscorer.
Danny Ings has not produced goals and Michail Antonio’s production has been reducing for a few seasons so this deal is a major requirement ticked off.
There are potentially reasonable questions over Fullkrug’s age and lack of sell-on value but if he continues his recent scoring record of at least 16 a season for the past three years he should justify the price tag.
Whether the Irons will aim for, or can afford, a second signing up front remains to be seen but the pressure is certainly reduced if the Germany international is through the doors.
The pursuit of Jhon Duran looked like it was going to be Steidten and Lopetegui’s answer to the nagging striker issue [The Athletic, 12 July] but the Aston Villa man is one of many who have proven to be just out of reach this summer.
But all sorts of activity has arisen in recent days to put the Irons operation back on track for the new season.
In other West Ham news, yet another player has agreed to join the Hammers in an explosion of signings.
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