Christmas is the time for mistletoe and wine but it’s more whine when it comes to West Ham’s own Saint Niclas.
West Ham have confirmed they are on the hunt for a new striker in January.
Is it any wonder?
The Hammers were already said to be eyeing a new forward before Michail Antonio’s horrific car crash.
Danny Ings is 32 and things simply haven’t worked out for him at West Ham, like so many before him. And since.
Niclas Fullkrug became striker signing number 53 of the David Sullivan era at West Ham since 2010.
Not all have been flops or disasters of course.
But Fullkrug has been threatening to be the latest, hot on the heels of Gianluca Scamacca and Sebastien Haller.
The Hammers paid Borussia Dortmund an initial £23.5m plus £3m in add-ons for the 31-year-old in the summer.
The club’s fans wanted to see a younger, more dynamic forward arrive.
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Fullkrug has just returned from three months out injured but is yet to start a league game for the Irons.
West Ham insider Sean Whetstone recently quoted his top source inside the club when claiming Fullkrug is unsettled at West Ham and already wants to leave in January.
After defeat at Leicester recently, in which the big German scored a consolation goal, Fullkrug stuck the boot in on Julen Lopetegui by saying his tactics and approach aren’t working.
The Germany international also clearly hinted at issues in training and a lack of leadership and ‘hierarchy’. Although he did say he wanted to help sort that issue out.
West Ham United's Niclas Fullkrug during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Aston Villa FC at London Stadium on August 17, 202...
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Fullkrug’s X-rated take on ‘risky’ West Ham move
It has been claimed that Fullkrug is one of five players who have told West Ham they want to leave if Lopetegui stays.
Since those claims emerged, a report has stated Fullkrug’s agents have held informal talks with Juventus about a move in the window.
The warning signs were there for Lopetegui when Fullkrug spoke out publicly to make it clear he hadn’t joined West Ham to be back-up to anyone after being named on the bench for the first game of the season.
With all that in mind – and with West Ham looking to sign a ‘top class centre-forward’ in January – it looks increasingly like the writing is on the wall for the club’s latest striker signing.
Especially as brutally honest Fullkrug has delivered an X-rated take on his ‘risky and catastrophic’ West Ham move – but now’s really not the time.
Fullkrug has given an interview to German football podcast Copa TS, which has also been covered by Bild.
In it, he swears when asked to describe his move to West Ham so far – labelling it something that rhymes with itty.
He opens up about his ‘catastrophic injury’ and bemoans a lack of European football while making it clear he doesn’t think West Ham will qualify this season either.
Fullkrug says he sacrificed a lot to join West Ham and describes the move as a big risk which has gone badly.
Niclas Fullkrug of West Ham United replaces his teammate Michail Antonio during the Pre-Season Friendly match between West Ham United and Celta Vig...
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Fullkrug swears when asked to describe Hammers move
“Of course, I also had very intensive discussions about such a risky step (to leave Dortmund for West Ham),” Fullkrug said.
“Because I knew that I was taking a step deeper and taking a certain risk that I wouldn’t play internationally (in Europe) next year, maybe not the year after that either, and that I would make a big, big change (to my life).
“I was aware of that, I communicated a lot with the coach, spoke a lot with (Hammers technical director) Tim Steidten who I know from my time at Bremen, which is how we got in touch so closely. Of course, we had completely different goals. Things were going really badly for me too, to put it bluntly.
“My Achilles tendon was inflamed and it was really annoying. I’ve had something like that before, it lasted six weeks, now it’s taken a bit longer and this phase is catastrophic. You just want to play and you feel like you’re close, but then there’s another setback.”
Now’s not the time for self-absorbed whining at West Ham
Now is really not the time for this from Fullkrug.
His teammate and fellow striker is in hospital facing the reality that his career may be over.
And here he is whining about an injury that kept him out for a couple of months.
Talking down about West Ham and describing joining this wonderful club as a step down is not on either. It won’t go down well with supporters.
For it to come out on the day news has emerged that the manager’s dad has passed away also leaves a sour taste the in mouth.
If Fullkrug isn’t happy here then the Hammers shouldn’t hesitate to ship him out to any willing takers.
The wisdom of signing an ageing, injury prone forward with a lack of pace was questioned by fans in the summer.
And they have been proved spot on.
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