Credit: Imago

Scott Mason

Mon 27 April 2026 13:10, UK

Niclas Fullkrug is not in West Ham United’s plans, and getting rid of him permanently in the summer will be key.

The German arrived in 2024 as a veteran striker on a large money transfer and never hit the heights expected of him.

Just one season and a half in, the 33-year-old had to be shipped out on loan to AC Milan, as he was not going to get game time in East London.

The Hammers’ mistakes have come back to bite them based on the latest reports around the German striker.

One Bundesliga club is interested in signing him from West Ham, but it could be at a reduced fee.

What is the latest on Niclas Fullkrug and West Ham?

West Ham have seemingly decided to cut their losses on Fullkrug as they look to get his wages off the books.

After signing for £27million in 2024, the Irons would have at least been hoping for some return on their investment. However, that looks to be out of the question.

According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenburg, who was speaking on Sport1’s Doppelpass, he stated: “VfL Wolfsburg want to do everything they can to sign Niklas Fullkrug if they remain in the Bundesliga.

“Because Niklas Fullkrug would leave AC Milan. They won’t activate the purchase option, and then he goes back to West Ham.

“West Ham, however, want to get rid of him and would almost let him go for next to nothing. They want to move him out of their plans.”

The German forward is currently contracted to the Hammers until 2028; however, he is on a reported wage of £90,000 per week.

At 33 years old and in lacklustre form, it could be hard to find suitors willing to offer the Hammers an acceptable transfer fee. He has scored just once for AC Milan since making the switch to Italy.

Allowing him to leave for a reduced price and getting him off the books at London Stadium makes plenty of sense.

Niclas Fullkrug transfer represents everything wrong with West Ham board

The whole Fullkrug transfer saga has been a disaster from the very start. £27m on a 31-year-old forward at the time was terrible value.

Additionally, signing him on a four-year contract for £90,000 per week in wages was ridiculous as well. It only took one and a half seasons for the German international to fall out of the Hammers’ plans.

Now, they are stuck with an expensive mistake they have to clean up. There will not be many teams looking to take Fullkrug off the Irons’ hands, and they could ultimately be forced to keep him on the books until 2028.

While Wolfsburg are keen on Fullkrug, if they get relegated, they will not be able to afford him. Signing the German was the height of incompetence.