West Ham United could have a Niclas Fullkrug-sized problem to deal with this summer after AC Milan went cold on the prospect of signing him on a permanent basis.
Indeed, Fullkrug has struggled at AC Milan and ten appearances have yielded just one goal.
The Milan giants do have an option to buy the striker when his loan deal ends at the end of the season but it seems the San Siro might not be the permanent home the German wanted it to be.
Reports from Italian media outlet Calciomercato suggest that a return to east London could be on the cards.
Why do you think Niclas Fullkrug failed?
Niclas Fullkrug of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium on November 30, 2025 in London, England.
AC Milan could replace Niclas Fullkrug with Dusan Vlahovic
They claim that it’s becoming increasingly likely that Fullkrug returns to West Ham.
Milan want to make “significant” changes to their attacking line next season, with Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic a big target. They will reportedly build around Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao.
As such, Fullkrug could leave alongside Santiago Gimenez and Christopher Nkunku.
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Though the Serie A titans are understood to have a relatively low option to buy the former Borussia Dortmund star, they want to spend their money on younger players.
That is certainly understandable, even if hugely frustrating from a West Ham point of view.
Milan at one point looked to be in the race for the Serie A title but have fallen ten points behind city rivals Inter in recent weeks.
Things are looking up 😍 So who are we sending down to the Championship?!
Forest? Leeds?……Spurs? 🙏
A graphic asking West Ham fans which team in the Premier League they are going to catch.
Credit: Getty Images/Rob Newell – CameraSport
Niclas Fullkrug’s statistics at AC Milan
Fullkrug has already hinted his time at West Ham is over, and it’s hard to see him having much of a future here in east London even if Milan decide not to keep him.
Still, he will have two years left on his contract by the time he returns, and finding a buying club could prove difficult.
West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug on loan at AC Milan gestures
Photo by Elianton/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
It would be fair to say that Fullkrug isn’t covering himself in glory out in Italy.
He has scored only one goal thus far, missed a penalty against Pisa and is struggling to make an impact. In four of his ten outings, he’s not managed a shot.
Fullkrug has averaged 1.2 shots per game, only slightly more than he was at West Ham prior to his departure (1.1). The forward is also winning fewer aerial duels (0.6 to 2.3) over the same period.
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