There was lot’s of action at West Ham United in January. Nuno Espirito Santo oversaw significant change to his Hammers squad, especially in the front areas of the pitch. Valentin Castellanos and Pablo Filipe joined the club, whilst Niclas Fullkrug was allowed to make his pre-agree departure.
The German frontman wasn’t able to make thing’s work with West Ham and was granted a chance to find football elsewhere last month. The 33-year-old joined AC Milan on an initial loan deal, with a more-than-ideal option to buy. So far, Fullkrug has scored once in 10 appearances for the club.
The players form, or lack there of, has left the Rossoneri to make a stance on Fullkrug’s future. According to reports, even if the forward manages to deliver for Milan boss Max Allegri, the club are unlikely to sign him permanently. Fullkrug has recently sustained a toe injury, leaving him out for sometime, further increasing the Italian side’s reluctance to trigger his buy clause.
With more strikers in the plan’s for Nuno’s version of West Ham, should Fullkrug return, he would be left in almost limbo as he strives for a new club.
Niclas Fullkrug’s indifferent West Ham career
German Fullkrug joined the Hammers on the back of going to the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund. That season, his sole one with the Yellows, the 33-year-old was key to the team’s run to the final, scoring three goals in the competition to go along with his 12 in the Bundesliga.
That summer, the forward would head to the Euro’s in his home country, scoring twice as the Germans made it to the semi-final stage. Fullkrug wanted a new challenge and chose the West Ham, and the what ended up being the wrong time for both parties.
Niclas Fullkrug’s West Ham United Statistics
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 29 | 3 | 2 |
The Hammers had just come off a season competing in the Europa League, and under new boss Julan Lopetegui there was hope the Irons would press on back into Europe once again. Unfortunately that ended up being far from the end result. The Spanish boss was dismissed in January as Fullkrug scored three goals in season where West Ham finished 14th.
This season, not much changed for the German forward. Graham Potter, who had taken over from Lopetegui, lost his job after an abysmal run leaving Nuno to pick up the pieces. A bench role was never the one for Fullkrug, with the club allowing him to move on in January, although it now looks as though he could return.
West Ham monitoring other options
Despite bringing in two forwards in January, West Ham are monitoring other forwards. Promise David and Armando Gonzalez are said to be on the shortlist of players Nuno would like to bring in, subject on the Hammers Premier League survival.
Promise David has been in fine form for Belgium side Union Saint-Gilloise, whilst Armando Gonzalez is having the best season of his career for GD Chivas. Both players will have other suitors, but the Irons hope themselves and England’s top flight can work their magic.
