Another day, another Niclas Fullkrug snub as the West Ham United striker reportedly sees another potential suitor turn their nose up at a January transfer.
At the latest count, four clubs appear to have rejected the opportunity to rescue the Germany international from his London Stadium nightmare.
Stuttgart seemed to rule out signing Fullkrug at the beginning of November, shortly after the former Borussia Dortmund striker’s agent spoke out and opened the door to a new beginning.
Alexsander Wehrle, Stuttgart’s CEO, insisted that the Champions League-chasing outfit are happy enough with their squad as it stands.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri appeared to close the door to AC Milan last week too, all the while insisting that Santiago Gimenez – the Mexico international has been linked with the Hammers as part of a potential swap deal – still has a future at San Siro.
Then, according to Tuttomercatoweb, it was reported that Serie A pacesetters Roma are not interested either.
So, what next for Niclas Fullkrug and West Ham United?
Where do both he and they go from here in pursuit of a solution? The answer to that question is unlikely to be Eintracht Frankfurt. At least, according to what German publication BILD reported this weekend, with Frankfurt instead fully focused on bringing in Will Osula from Newcastle.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesFrankfurt are unlikely to sign Niclas Fullkrug from West Ham United
Ironically, it was alleged that Fullkrug could be heading to the Commerzbank Arena as a replacement for a striker West Ham could, and in hindsight probably should, have signed last summer.
Hammers News understands that former technical director Tim Steidten considered Mainz hitman Jonathan Burkardt. Steidten would probably have been remembered with a great deal more fondness in East London had he taken the plunge.
Should West Ham cut their losses on Niclas Fullkrug in January?
“I think it might make sense to make a change.
“Many would probably agree that Niclas is a classic penalty-area striker – strong in the air, physically powerful, able to shield the ball – basically made for the Premier League. [But] in retrospect, you have to say the transfer didn’t work. There’s no sugar-coating it.
“Time and again, just when you thought, ‘now he’s coming, now he’ll show England it wasn’t just a good Euro and then nothing afterwards’, another injury came. And that’s a shame.
“He’s had a bit of negative momentum and also some bad luck” – agent Thorsten Wirth
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Burkardt has scored a highly-impressive 11 goals in 17 games since swapping Mainz for Frankfurt, including three in five Champions League outings. But with a calf injury now ruling him out for the foreseeable future, reports have suggested that Fullkrug could be the man tasked with stepping into his shoes.
“[Burkardt’s injury] worsens the personnel situation up front. A new striker is now to be signed,” Sky Germany reporter Patrick Berger wrote on X. “Eintracht are now checking a winter transfer for William Osula [of Newcastle]
“The player still only wants to go to Frankfurt, after the summer move fell through.
“Niclas Füllkrug is also being discussed internally. But Frankfurt actually want to focus on developing and value-increasing players.”
Bundesliga outfit already have an agreement with Will Osula of Newcastle
Berger’s final point is likely to be the most pertinent.
Because, as BILD now report, Frankfurt have decided against making a move for the one-time Werder Bremen and Nurnburg talisman. Fullkrug ‘doesn’t fit the profile’ of striker the 2021 Europa League winners are looking for.
He is also considered ‘too injury-prone’. Understandably so.
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Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
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Fullkrug will turn 33 in February, and has started only 11 Premier League matches since joining West Ham for an eye-watering £27 million.
Osula, ten years his junior, is a far more typical Frankfurt sort of centre-forward in comparison. The Bundesliga outfit made a reported £350 million by selling on Randal Kolo Muani, Hugo Ekitike, Luka Jovic, Andre Silva, Sebastien Haller and Omar Marmoush.
Now, according to Sky Germany, Frankfurt have a ‘basic agreement’ with the former Sheffield United prospect. The Eagles are hoping to sign Osula on an initial loan deal, with a £17.5 million purchase clause included.
Few clubs in Europe have enjoyed more success when signing talented, up and coming forwards, and then selling them on a year or two down the line for a colossal profit. Burkardt is likely to join the party sooner rather than later.
And 22-year-old Osula, who came close to joining on deadline day in September, is another trademark Frankfurt acquisition. Fullkrug, though, is about as far removed as it is possible to imagine.
As for West Ham, Callum Wilson is expected to start up top again when Nuno Espirito Santo’s team face Manchester United on Thursday. Fullkrug produced another uneventful cameo during the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool last time out.
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