Let’s be honest — West Ham’s botched striker recruitment policy can’t possibly get any worse. News that Niclas Füllkrug wants to leave the London Stadium will come as little surprise to most Hammers fans.
In truth, the big German described his transfer from Borussia Dortmund as “a nightmare” early into his first season. One particularly unfortunate interview back home hinted that Premier League money had simply been too tempting to turn down.
At the time, ESPN Bundesliga commentator Ian Darke told us on Hammers Chat that “West Ham had paid over the odds” for Füllkrug — and it’s hard to argue now.
Most Read on West Ham News
Niclas Fullkrug has been a waste of £27m for West Ham
Same Old Story
Injuries haven’t helped, nor has the fact that the 32-year-old was reportedly viewed as wasted money by Tim Steidten. But if we take a step back, it’s clear the real issue lies in West Ham’s long-running inability to identify a reliable striker.
To put it bluntly, the club are terrible at this. The two best forwards of the Sullivan era — Michail Antonio and Marko Arnautović — both arrived as wingers.
Claret & Hugh were told this morning that any Füllkrug deal is “a long way off,” but there is tentative Bundesliga interest. One can only hope Nuno Espirito Santo has a clearer plan for January, because David Sullivan’s hit-and-hope approach has failed to find the right man for the job in over 50 attempts.
As for Füllkrug, he’ll likely be remembered for his injuries and a decent pre-season — not much return on a £27 million investment. As one souce told us: “You’ll never see that money again.”