[Claret and Hugh’s](https://www.claretandhugh.info/he-can-leave-west-hams-27m-man-not-part-of-potter-plan/) article yesterday threw light on the possibility of last years’ summer recruit Niclas Fullkrug being available for sale just twelve months on after joining West Ham. His £27.5 million transfer was controversial at the time: The likelihood of another club meeting West Ham’s valuation would seem remote indeed.
Would West Ham hang onto Fullkrug instead of suffering another ‘hit’ if the best they could achieve was £15 million? Only David Sullivan knows the answer but with the club apparently sailing so close to PSR boundaries, any further additions in the ‘loss’ column might be better deferred another year.
In any case, along with many other West Ham fans, I suspect there is a lot more to come from Fullkrug even as a ‘supersub’. The German national side used him in that capacity for the last couple of years and he is unlikely to be the first-choice striker around whom Graham Potter builds his attack this summer.
What is clear is that the Hammers need a new ‘main man’ to lead the line. Recent events would suggest that one of the strong contenders from the winter is now a non-starter: Brian Brobbey, the young Dutch centre forward, appears to be sinking fast from the list of possible West Ham candidates.
Back in January West Ham were in negotiations for the young, burly Antonio-esque frontman with Ajax: However the Dutch club wanted a mandatory purchase option inserted at £30 million and West Ham baulked at that.
Brobbey has since hit the buffers and is in the midst of a goal drought. Ajax are sliding down the table and Brobbey, with no goals in the last eight games, looks as if his winter price tag is about double his current value. The Hammers striker curse at work again?
Whoever gets to start in the ‘9’ shirt next season it doesn’t look like it will be the 23 year-old Dutchman. Bear in mind though that another West Ham striker target Yuri Alberto just last week broke his own eight game goal drought with a superb hat-trick – so all eyes on Brobbey who will no doubt do the same the moment West Ham settle on another forward!