Niklas Füllkrug’s wages at West Ham United are “quite a hurdle” for some of the clubs interested in him in the January transfer window.
That’s according to journalist Patrick Berger, [via Sky Sports Germany](https://sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/exklusiv-wechselfreigabe-ist-da-bundesligist-an-fuellkrug-dran/13468208/34128). He’s covered the potential destinations for the West Ham forward in January.
Füllkrug appears determined to leave West Ham in the winter window. His agent [opened the door to a move](https://sportwitness.co.uk/player-informs-west-ham-of-january-transfer-desire-wants-to-throw-in-hammers-towel/) last week, admitting they had made a mistake joining the Hammers.
Numerous reports have followed since explaining that West Ham are happy for the striker to leave in January. Indeed, they appear to have given him permission to secure a transfer.
Bundesliga clubs are already analysing a potential move and positioning themselves. But Berger reports that the striker’s wages at West Ham could be an issue.
“It’s said that several clubs are equally interested in the German national striker,” he said.
“VfL Wolfsburg is specifically interested in Niklas Füllkrug, for various reasons. They simply lack a player like him at the moment. But according to our information, FC Augsburg has also contacted his management and could make a move in the winter transfer window.
Stuttgart and Leipzig were also mentioned as potential destinations before his move to West Ham. The door—I don’t want to completely close it—but the trail has at least cooled down a bit for Niklas Füllkrug.
“Will it be a swap deal? Will it be a loan, or perhaps even a permanent transfer? One thing is clear: Füllkrug earns a lot of money in London, around € 4.5m euros net. So, that’s quite a hurdle for some clubs.”
Wolfsburg appear to be at the front of the queue at this moment in time, and Berger can understand why. He feels Füllkrug’s leadership skills would be very welcome at the German club.
“Wolfsburg is a good fit, especially because they’re going through a difficult period,” he added.
“They’re lacking many of those leaders, players who can inspire the fans and the club, who can speak up in the locker room. At Dortmund, he quickly became one of the leaders, and what makes him so interesting is that he can function very well in a two-striker formation.”
The same logic, though, also applies to Augsburg, according to the journalist’s analysis.
“The same applies to FC Augsburg, who are very focused on crosses, where Füllkrug could be perfectly positioned in the center with good box coverage,” he concluded.
“They also want to make a move there. Above all, Füllkrug has a very good connection with Sandro Wagner, Nagelsmann’s former assistant coach. He knows him very well from the national team.”