AC Milan submit official bid for Niclas Füllkrug as West Ham push for permanent clause

Niclas Füllkrug’s time at West Ham United appears to be drawing to a close, with AC Milan submitting an official offer for the striker ahead of the January transfer window. The German international joined the Hammers in 2024 as a player expected to succeed Michail Antonio, but his spell in East London has never lived up to expectations. After just three goals in 18 months, injuries, and long stretches of inconsistency, West Ham are now prepared to move on.

Signed from Borussia Dortmund with considerable optimism, Füllkrug was billed as the experienced goalscorer who would lead the line under consecutive managers. Instead, his contribution has been limited and frustrating. Across 29 West Ham appearances, he has struggled to adapt to the Premier League’s pace and physicality.

Interest in Füllkrug has picked up despite his mixed form. Wolfsburg have held preliminary talks over a loan, while AC Milan have moved more decisively. According to Florian Plettenberg, Milan’s official bid is now on West Ham’s table. Their proposal is for a loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.

West Ham, however, want an obligation to buy included. The club sees January as the ideal chance to recover value and avoid Füllkrug returning in the summer without a clear place in the squad. Discussions remain ongoing, with Milan considered the most serious contender to complete the deal. Whether they accept an obligation clause will determine how quickly progress can be made.

This move would align with West Ham’s wider January strategy. Nuno Espírito Santo is targeting a more dynamic, mobile forward, and the club appear ready to streamline the attacking department.

If Füllkrug does depart, West Ham will be short on natural centre-forwards. Callum Wilson remains the only senior striker available, underscoring the need for reinforcements. Multiple names have already emerged.

Josh Sargent is one of the preferred options, with Norwich reportedly valuing him at around £20 million. Haji Wright has also been scouted, and Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee is admired, though his price and availability remain uncertain. Santiago Gimenez, currently at AC Milan, is another player of interest should Füllkrug move the other way.

Glasner and Steidten want a forward who can press aggressively, link play and contribute to the club’s transition-based attacking approach — areas where Füllkrug has struggled. The January window is therefore shaping into an essential period for refining the club’s attacking profile.

Having followed West Ham’s transition under Nuno Espírito Santo, the tactical mismatch with Füllkrug has been clear. The German striker thrives on quick, direct service and structured possession. By contrast, West Ham’s evolving system demands a forward with mobility, pressing energy and the ability to combine dynamically between the lines.

Although some supporters may argue that flexibility or fitness issues hindered his adaptation, it’s worth questioning whether the Premier League was ever an ideal fit. In our view, a January exit benefits both sides. Füllkrug gains the chance to revive his form in a league more suited to his attributes, while West Ham free up wages and squad space for a striker who can better influence the immediate future.

Milan’s interest also offers West Ham a rare opportunity to secure value for a player whose role has diminished significantly.

Two weeks remain before the window opens, and West Ham want clarity quickly to avoid scrambling later in the month. Securing Füllkrug’s exit early would accelerate negotiations for a replacement and reduce the risk of entering February with only one senior striker available.

West Ham prepare for a challenging trip to Manchester City this weekend. Behind the scenes, talks with Milan are expected to continue, and a decision on Füllkrug’s future could land before the window officially opens.

👉 West Ham fans — should the club push Milan for an obligation to buy, or accept a loan to clear the path for new arrivals?