West Ham striker Niclas Füllkrug is facing his final two months at the club, amid credible reports that the injury-prone forward is eyeing a January exit.
Fullkrug, who missed 28 games for club and country combined last season, has looked more and more like yet another torrid centre-forward investment by David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board since his £27 million arrival from Borussia Dortmund last year.
|Niclas Füllkrug's missed games for West Ham and Germany — 2024/2025|
|Injury|Missing from|Missing until|Games missed|
|---|
|Achilles tendon|08/09/2024|02/12/2024|16|
|Hamstring injury|11/01/2025|01/04/2025|12|
The 32-year-old's stay in east London has been marred by constant fitness issues and a struggle to adapt to Premier League football, with his stellar Euros and 16-goal haul for Dortmund at the end of 23/24 seeming like a lifetime ago.
Fullkrug's managed three goals and two assists in 27 total appearances for West Ham when he has been available, but even that return is uninspiring at best.
niclas-fullkrug-west-ham-premier-league
Nuno Espirito Santo is poised to welcome Fullkrug back from his latest injury after the November international break, according to reliable club insider ExWHUemployee, but the former Bundesliga star may not be donning Claret and Blue for too long afterwards.
Supporters and critics alike held hope that Nuno could inspire a 'Chris Wood-esque' transformation for Fullkrug.
However, as backed up by Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, the number nine has already decided to depart Rush Green once the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year.
The main questions now are: who would buy Fullkrug given his injury record, who could West Ham sign to replace him, how much money could the London side realistically recoup from his sale and what are the key conditions of his departure?
Well, as per an unnamed football agent, at least one of these queries has been answered.
West Ham set out key Niclas Füllkrug transfer condition before January
Speaking to West Ham insider Claret & Hugh, the mystery representative explained that, while the Hammers are actively looking to find him a new club, West Ham will not let Fullkrug leave at all unless they source a replacement first.
“West Ham are looking at clubs for Füllkrug, but who is going to buy him?," the agent said.
"Anyway, unless they sign someone first, they won’t let him leave.”
The attacker was brought in with high hopes of ending West Ham's long line of failed striker signings, but Fullkrug actually ended up being one of their more disappointing buys in that area.
Right now, Nuno has precious few alternatives, with fellow injury-prone ace Callum Wilson and youngster Callum Marshall standing out as their only natural options.
West Ham's boss experimented with Lucas Paqueta as the false nine against Brentford and Leeds to no avail, prompting him to start Wilson against his former club Newcastle last weekend as the Irons won their first home game of the season.
Even if they can't find a buyer for Fullkrug, West Ham simply must bring in a number nine when the winter window opens, and it is believed that they've reached out to former Brentford star Ivan Toney over a potential loan to buy deal.