Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Niclas Fullkrug only arrived at West Ham this summer on a £27 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
West Ham could reportedly flog marquee summer signing Niclas Fullkrug in the January transfer window in favour of another striker after a tough start to life in London for the former Borussia Dortmund man.
The 31-year-old was one of the most head-turning signings pulled off by Julen Lopetegui as he prepared for his first season as West Ham boss. Fullkrug cost the Hammers £27 million having scored 16 goals in all competitions last term.
However, the Germany international has just one goal for West Ham so far this term with the move at risk of becoming a flop. The player's transition to the Premier League hasn't been helped by a lengthy Achilles tendon injury, which saw him absent for the whole of September, October and November.
Fullkrug made his first Premier League start for West Ham in the 1-1 draw with Brighton on Saturday but was taken off after just 57 minutes. Now, transfer expert Christian Falk that the player could already be on his way out of the London Stadium.
West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug has just one goal this season.West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug has just one goal this season.
West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug has just one goal this season. | Getty Images
In his Daily Briefing column, Falk wrote: “I heard West Ham is also interested in Stefanos Tzimas, which makes sense given that Niclas Fullkrug is very upset with his situation over in London.
“There may be an opportunity for him to sign for Juventus in the winter. This could be a good move – Tzimas to West Ham and Fullkrug to Juventus. It’s not concrete at the moment, but it’s an idea.”
Tzimas would certainly offer West Ham a different proposition up front and is more than a decade younger than Fullkrug at 18 years old. The teenager is on loan at FC Nürnberg from PAOK and the German outfit are believed to be prepared to activate the €18 million [£15m] option to buy clause they hold this summer.
West Ham would face competition for any transfer with Sky Germany naming Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle United all as sides monitoring Tzimas' progress. Falk also claimed that Fullkrug was 'very upset with his situation in London' as transfer rumours continue to swirl.
Lopetegui: ‘Fullkrug not at his best’
Speaking about the player after the draw with Brighton, Lopetegui said: “It’s true that now he’s not in his best way. But it’s true that he needs minutes to achieve this level that we need.
“I think that when he’s going to be better, he’s going to last more. It’s about the minutes, about the matches, the way to recover his best.
“Sometimes, knowing that the player is not in his best way, you need to put him in to play, because we think that we are going to need him in his best way.”
Continue Reading