West Ham United have agreed to send struggling striker Niclas Füllkrug to Italian giants AC Milan on a loan deal for the remainder of the season, as manager Nuno Espírito Santo scrambles to bolster his attacking options in the fight against Premier League relegation.
Milan Deal and West Ham's Striker Search
The Serie A club have secured an option to make the German international's move permanent next summer, but are not obligated to buy. This arrangement allows West Ham to remove Füllkrug's significant wages from their books, creating crucial financial flexibility for the upcoming January transfer window.
Nuno is now urgently seeking a new centre-forward to aid the club's survival bid. The primary target is Wolverhampton Wanderers' Norwegian striker Jørgen Strand Larsen. However, the Hammers are hesitant to meet Wolves' asking price, which is believed to be set at around £40 million. With the club's budget described as limited, West Ham's hierarchy view that valuation as excessive for a player who has scored only once in the league this season.
A Costly Mistake and Limited Options
Füllkrug's departure marks the end of a disappointing chapter at the London Stadium. Signed from Borussia Dortmund for £27.5 million in the summer of 2024, the 31-year-old has failed to adapt to English football. Plagued by injuries and poor form, he managed just three goals and 11 league starts for the Hammers, and has not started a match since 4 October.
Internally, the transfer is now regarded as one of the worst missteps made by the club's former technical director, Tim Steidten. West Ham attempted to sell Füllkrug last summer, but his high salary deterred potential buyers until Milan's late intervention.
Nuno's striking options are now critically thin. With only veteran Callum Wilson as a recognised senior striker, he has been forced to deploy wingers Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville in central roles, with little success. The team sits 18th in the table, mired in a six-game winless run.
Further Business Expected in January
The manager's shopping list is not limited to a forward. Nuno is also keen to add a new centre-back to his squad and could renew interest in Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell.
To further increase their January war chest, West Ham are open to offers for several players. Midfielder James Ward-Prowse and another expensive Steidten signing, Luis Guilherme, could be moved on. There is also anticipation of potential bids from Brazilian clubs for playmaker Lucas Paquetá.
The immediate focus, however, is on securing a reliable goal-scorer before crucial home fixtures against Fulham and Brighton. The Füllkrug experiment is over, and West Ham's recruitment team are under immense pressure to get their next striker signing right.
