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West Ham United striker Niclas Füllkrug may be on his way out of the club as early as the January transfer window, with reports suggesting that the team is losing faith in their summer signing.
According to Kicker, the 31-year-old forward, who joined West Ham from Borussia Dortmund for €27 million, is now regarded as ‘hapless’ following a disappointing start to his tenure at the London Stadium.
Füllkrug was expected to be a key figure in manager Julen Lopetegui’s revamped squad, but his impact has been limited due to injury. He has played just 63 minutes across three Premier League appearances as a substitute, in addition to 74 minutes as a starter in the League Cup against Bournemouth.
Lopetegui acknowledged the severity of Füllkrug’s situation, stating that he is unsure when the striker will return from an Achilles injury sustained in September, labeling it a ‘serious problem’ for the club. The Hammers are in dire need of his goal-scoring ability following a difficult start to the season.
There are growing concerns that Füllkrug’s playing style does not align with the ‘quick, short passing game’ that Lopetegui has implemented. Kicker notes that while it may be premature to draw definitive conclusions, the former Dortmund star ‘seems to have confused himself’ on the pitch.
Reports indicate that Lopetegui is already eyeing potential replacements for Füllkrug in January, suggesting that the striker may seek a ‘fresh start’ as West Ham reassesses its squad. With the transfer window approaching, Füllkrug’s future at the club remains uncertain.
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