Franculino Dju will soon be back in action over in Denmark – and the free-scoring Guinea Bissau international could also be back on West Ham United’s transfer wishlist.
According to reports out of Scandinavia, the Hammers had a bid rejected by FC Midtjylland in the region of £12 million late last summer.
The team sitting second in the Danish Superliga, five points behind AGF, value their prized asset at closer to £25 million. Franculino Dju won’t come cheap, then, The Mirror reporting in November that West Ham United’s interest had not wavered despite that failed approach last August.
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The main obstacle standing between him and a big-money transfer this summer, though, may be the knee injury which has kept Franculino out of action during the entirety of 2026.
An injury he is now hoping to put in the rearview mirror for good.
West Ham United target Franculino Dju could return for Midtjylland this weekend
Franculino has not played a competitive minute for Midtjylland since the turn of the year.
That should change soon, though. SportTV2 report that Franculino should be on the bench for Saturday’s clash with Sonderjyske Fodbold.
Franculino Dju celebrates a goal for FC Midtjylland
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“He’s a happy boy and happy to be back,” beams coach Mike Tullberg. “Of course we’ve missed him. He’s the best striker in the Super League, and now we just hope he can get back into shape quickly.”
“I’m happy. I’m happy to be able to play football again,” Franculino responds, champing at the proverbial bit and desperate to pick up where he left off before Christmas.
“It has been very hard to have to do without football, because it is my greatest passion in life. I always want to score goals. I want to score 100 goals!
“[But] I will save the goals for Saturday. That is, if I get 45 minutes…”
Franculino, who came through a midweek session unscathed, is already more than halfway to a century of senior strikes. The 21-year-old has scored 54 in 103 Midtjylland appearances.
Franculino was matching the pace of Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in the autumn too, translating his impressive domestic form onto the European stage. The one-time Benfica prospect has 21 goals this season despite missing four months of the campaign, three of those coming in the Europa League against Celtic and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Strikers continue to be linked as Callum Wilson contract runs down
West Ham paid over £40 million to sign both Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe in January, shortly after the extent of Franculino’s knee injury was confirmed. The likely departure of Callum Wilson, though, leaves the door ajar for another striker signing.
Wilson will be a free-agent in July as things stand.
According to reports from Mexico, West Ham contacted Chivas frontman Armando Gonzalez in January. Juventus benchwarmer Jonathan David has been mentioned again, alongside Nuno’s old Wolves favourite Raul Jimenez and Bologna starlet Santiago Castro.
If Franculino stays fit between now and the end of the season, though, he can put himself back in contention. Midtjylland have eight games remaining, starting with Saturday’s visit of Sonderjyske to the MCH Arena.
Sporting director Kristian Bach Bak has already confirmed that Franculino is likely to leave Midtjylland in the off-season, via Bold.
“Franculino’s level, character, and goal return make him interesting for all clubs around the world,” Bach Bak said late last year. “We are lucky and humbled to have a player like Franculino, and we are happy to have helped develop him.
“Then, the players themselves are in a place where they can take the next step. ‘Francu’ is an example of the strategy that we want as a club. This summer, he will have been here for three years, and then he will also be sent on, because his age also means something for his value.”
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