Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Sat 28 March 2026 17:10, UK

West Ham United are struggling to get rid of Niclas Fullkrug for pennies.

The 33-year-old striker joined Serie A giants AC Milan on loan during the winter transfer window, signing a deal until the end of the season with an option to buy.

However, it didn’t take long for doubt to set in at the San Siro.

He has often been restricted to mere cameos from the bench during matches, which has resulted in him scoring just one goal from his first 14 appearances in Italy.

With Milan on course to qualify for the Champions League next season, Fullkrug will likely return to West Ham, not that his parent club will be greeting his comeback with open arms.

Why won’t AC Milan sign Fullkrug permanently?

Simply, the veteran hasn’t done the business, and with Milan to compete across multiple fronts, including in Europe’s premier club competition, they need to upgrade on him.

Damningly, journalist Matteo Moretto has declared that, as a result, there is a next to zero chance of the Rossoneri deciding to trigger the bargain £4.3million buy option.

Moretto said on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel: “There is a very small chance of seeing Fullkrug with the Milan shirt for another season.

“The buy-out option is set at €5m, so it’s not an expensive one, but the Rossoneri are already looking for another striker, a physical one, who can fill the role that Fullkrug has.

“So he would return to West Ham.”

Having already made up their mind, Milan have multiple options to replace Fullkrug, with Moise Kean a target for the summer, according to Calciomercato.

West Ham set the permanent clause so low in an attempt to offload him from their books for good, but instead, they will seemingly be saddled with him again in the summer.

What is very clear is that Fullkrug does not have a future at the London Stadium.

Selling Fullkrug won’t be easy

Fullkrug signed a four-year contract when he joined the Irons in a £27m deal from Borussia Dortmund back in August 2024, meaning he is tied down until June 2028.

As a result, the Hammers won’t find it easy to secure a buyer. They will be willing to let the ace go for a pittance, but his spell with Milan is a poorly-timed reminder of his limitations.

The club must prioritise securing his departure once their Premier League status is clear, because they cannot afford to stump up his £54,000-per-week wages for two more years.

Were Fullkrug to stay until his deal expires, he would earn around £5.6m – a hefty payday for a player who never came close to cutting the mustard in the Premier League.