Last week, West Ham United misfit Niclas Fullkrug looked destined for a Bundesliga return with VFL Wolfsburg. That was, though, until AC Milan stuck their oar in.
Wolfsburg were expected to accelerate their pursuit of the former Borussia Dortmund striker once their appointment of a new sporting director was confirmed.
Pirmin Schwegler played alongside Fullkrug at Hannover years ago. So when the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt chief was appointed at the Volkswagen Arena, it seemed only a matter of time before West Ham United’s injury-hit Germany international was packing his bags and heading back home.
But, as Italian reporter Gianluca di Marzio explained back in November, Fullkrug always wanted to test himself in Italy. The opportunity to do just that is now set to present itself.
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Calciomercato say that Milan have reached an agreement with Niclas Fullkrug with regards to his wages. The Rossoneri are expected to match the 33-year-old’s current pay packet in East London. Reaching an agreement with his club, however, may be a more difficult task.
But as Matteo Moretto explains alongside Fabrizio Romano on his official YouTube channel, a ‘significant acceleration’ is expected over the coming hours and days.
Fabrizio Romano explains why Niclas Fullkrug is likely to join AC Milan from West Ham United
Milan reportedly want Fullkrug on loan, until the summer when Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus will become available. West Ham may have serious reservations about such an arrangement of course. Without an option or certainly an obligation-to-buy clause, they will find themselves in a familiar situation a few months down the line when Fullkrug returns to the London Stadium.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Moretto believes that the arrangement of a deal is likely to be thrashed out imminently, though, as both clubs look to reach a compromise.
Furthermore, what Fullkrug lacks in star power, he makes up for in affordability. This is why he has suddenly emerged as a leading target for the team sitting second in Serie A, despite a miserable spell in England.
“Fullkrug was among the names for several months ago, but he wasn’t the favourite,” Moretto says. “Then, due to a series of evaluations regarding cost and quality, he climbed the pecking order, and [director] Igli Tare intends to secure him as soon as possible.
“[Fullkrug] has given it top priority and the operation would be on loan. We expect a significant acceleration in the next few days.”
“At the end of October, the player began to be offered to Milan and other Italian clubs,” Romano adds. “In recent days, Milan have shown their intention, working on a loan deal with West Ham. In short, discussions between the two clubs have begun.”
Romano says that Fullkrug has chosen Serie A over the Bundesliga
Romano explains that Fullkrug would prefer a new challenge in Serie A, rather than a return to his old stomping ground.
“Fullkrug prefers Italy, even though he’s German and has two offers from Germany. But when he called Milan to gather concrete information, to study how to secure him, Fullkrug gave Milan total priority.
“Milan have started discussions.”
Romano believes that Fullkrug is a long-time target of AC Milan. He was on the radar of the seven-time European Champions before they brought in England international Tammy Abraham from Roma in the summer of 2024.
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Promise David, Zan Vipotnik and Franculino all mentioned as replacements
West Ham were linked with Milan striker Santiago Gimenez recently, meanwhile.
The Mexican poacher highlighted as a potential sweetener in a deal that would see Fullkrug move in the other direction. Gimenez moving to the Premier League, where West Ham will face Manchester City on Saturday, seems unlikely now, though.
The former Feyenoord talisman is reportedly considering surgery on an ankle injury.
As far as potential replacements go, Haji Wright of Coventry City is the latest to appear in the gossip columns. West Ham reportedly made a bid for Franculino Dju of FC Midtjylland over the summer, but he has since caught the eye of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
Swansea’s Zan Vipotnik is a surprise option, on the back of a formidable start to the Championship season. Union Saint-Gilloise’s Promise ‘Baby Lukaku’ David is another to keep an eye on for a Hammers side who will face Erling Haaland and Manchester City on Saturday.
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