No sooner has the debate on the Claret and Hugh forum seemingly come down on the ‘positive’ side for Niclas Füllkrug as a prospective addition to West Ham’s front line, than it seems others a little closer to home (his home) are coming to the same conclusion – that he is well worth recruiting.
Claret and Hugh’s Sean Whetstone has just confirmed what we had picked up from various news sources, that talks are at an ‘advanced stage’ for the German International along with AWB and Crysencio Summerville. However Füllkrug would appear to be in demand across Europe:
Sky’s Patrick Berger on ‘X’ has reported that admirers are popping up from different European countries to try and hijack West Ham United’s talks to secure the 31 year old.
Athletico Madrid and AC Milan, no less, plus Stuttgart from the Bundesliga are all sitting up and taking notice with a view to competing for the German’s signature.
If any of these clubs do end up bidding against the Irons for the striker’s services it will take a bit of inspirational negotiating from Tim Steidten to seal the deal – West Ham without European football are not quite the pull we were for recruitment and at the very least other interest will push the price of the player higher.
Sadly this is something which we know causes problems for our own Board who, it must be said, do like to steal a bit of a bargain.
Cannot say I’d be disappointed, the prospect of three strikers over the age of thirty in the same Hammers squad fills me full of dread for the coming season. But I seem to be in the minority who feel in this instance we’ll be fishing old boots out of the canal instead of pearls from the Caribbean. Perhaps our front men will all be wearing shirt numbers in the 90’s to signify their combined ages next year.
At 31, Fullkrug is the finished article, he’s unlikely to suddenly get much better or worse.
He’s probably good for 10 goals and significant assists per season for 2/3 years, impact sub, will give West Ham presence in the box at set pieces, and given his family history of coaching, my guess is he will be a great mentor and improve those around him.
Also worth considering, Steidten has watched his career and must see something in him ?
Duran shows lots of promise, but is he ready to be ‘the man’?
For £15mil. Fulljrug lots cheap, for £40mil. Duran looks expensive.
Why not buy fulkrug and wahi or Duran and wahi ? I would prefer Duran rather than fulkrug as I think we need to invest in young players! COYI
Wahi or Yilmas are better long-term choice, however it really depends on the price.
We need a FW, RB, CB and CM so our budget needs to be used wisely.
The German proved he is great at hold up & linking play with fast runners in behind. With Paquetá, Kudus, Bowen and Summerville, zee German could prove a quality signing for a couple of seasons.
I thought he looked decent at the Euros, I’d take him over Duran any day of the week.
Any talk of Füllkrug going to Milan or Atletico is a non-starter. Milan already got Morata and won’t buy another aging forward with a similar profile and Atletico are most likely getting Sørloth from Villarreal after missing out on Dovbyk to Roma
A man reaches their peak physical strength around the age of 30. This period is often considered the prime age for muscle mass and physical performance. So Fulkrug is 31. Ok he’s a little bit past his peak, by 1 year, but what he also has is great experience and is proven at the highest level for a number of years. He is someone who can come straight in and do a job for at least a couple of years. He can help us back into Europe.
One minute the articles are about how its a failed transfer window as we are trying to get a player who is too old the next minute how its a failed transfer window as we are going to lose him as other teams are interested. He appears to be available at a decent price. He is nearer the end of his career than the beginning and therefore will be particularly interested in a) the amount of money he will earn b) the length of the contract. Still if we beat out other clubs the article on here will be that we paid him too much money and gave him too long a contract for a 31 year old (or as this site will put it ‘32 on his next birthday’)
You are right Dudley Tyler. I have my doubts about Fullkrug and doubts about the veracity of this and most articles I read about transfers.
But I can’t look away. I know most of what I read is nonsense and yet I can’t help but read who it is who we are having talks with, who we are or have been scouting, who Steidten is jetting out to meet, who Lopetegui wants, likes or wants rid of, who the latest ‘wonderkid’ is, who he plays for, where he plays and the level of out interest and why Sullivan is again being slated (usually being a money issue of course.)
But this age thing is interesting. I remember the doubters complaining when we bought Valencia and Sake. They were young, unknown, untried in the EPL and relatively inexpensive.but they took to playing in East London better than most. I saw them take Liverpool apart at Upton Park through speed, determination and unselfish running. They were a brilliant combination that I believe The Hippo eventually dismantled.
I really want the club to,stick their necks out and buy Duran. I think he’d be in this class, a boy with points to prove, pace, a brilliant eye for goals. He will add so much value to Kudus and Summerville and Bowen, and they will add to his game. If he wants to move on in a couple of years we make a decent profit on him.
Converesely, we buy Fullkrug we don’t stand to benefit much from a sell on at all.
So you won’t hear me having a whinge. If the club walk away from Duran Im will accept it as The West Ham Way, disappointing as it might be. But let’s wait for the truth to emerge first.,
Hi Lance, With the Summerville deal(fingers crossed) I am a lot more relaxed about Fullkrug: a fast, attacking LW recruit re-models our team shape with three across the front. Quite possible for Antonio, Ings and AN Other to share striker duties ahead of Summerville, Kudus and Bowen..so, whatever works for the recruitment team is fine by me and everyone else on the forum apparently. Probably now emphasis shifts to CB and RB but aren’t the signs GOOD now.
One Optimistic C and H columnist 🙂
You are right Dudley Tyler. I have my doubts about Fullkrug and doubts about the veracity of this and most articles I read about transfers.
But I can’t look away. I know most of what I read is nonsense and yet I can’t help but read who it is we are having talks with, who we are or have been scouting, who Steidten is jetting out to meet, who Lopetegui wants, likes or wants rid of, who the latest ‘wonderkid’ is, who he plays for, where he plays and the level of out interest and why Sullivan is again being slated (usually being a money issue of course.)
But this age thing is interesting. I remember the doubters complaining when we bought Valencia and Saka .They were young, unknown, untried in the EPL and relatively inexpensive but they took to playing in East London better than most. I saw them take Liverpool apart at Upton Park through speed, determination and unselfish running. They were a brilliant combination that I believe The Hippo eventually dismantled.
I really want the club to stick their necks out and buy Duran. I think he’d be in this class; a boy with points to prove, pace, a brilliant eye for goals. He will add so much value to Kudus and Summerville and Bowen, and they will add to his game.
If he wants to move on in a couple of years we make a decent profit on him.
Converesely, we buy Fullkrug we don’t stand to benefit much from a sell on at all.
So you won’t hear me having a whinge. If the club walk away from Duran I will accept it as The West Ham Way, disappointing as it might be. But let’s wait for the truth to emerge first.,
If age is the issue, let me point out that Harry Kane is also 31. Would you (all fans on here) welcome him into our squad?
No, there is some Potato peel left on him.
‘Arry Kane?
No thanks.