West Ham signing Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug would signal a massive failure in the club’s transfer strategy.
Whilst I’m far from convinced and almost cynical of speculation reporting interest in the big German striker, the rumour is gathering momentum. Therefore, as a West Ham website, I do feel duty-bound to explore the possibilities of such a move despite my doubts.
Firstly, let me start by stating that Fullkrug is not a bad player at all; he’s a decent finisher, good in the air, and adept at passing with decent vision.
However, the 31-year-old would be a stopgap ‘in case of emergency break glass’ signing and was not on West Ham’s radar until recently, if at all. For the transfer of Fullkrug to happen would mean that something has gone drastically wrong.
West Ham have been aware for some time that striker was a problem position and it was described by a top Hammers source as ‘maximum priority’ at the start of this window. The intention of the club was to have a marquee signing at centre forward following years of failure with big money bids for Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca.
The Hammers’ hierarchy was determined to get this deal right and Tim Steidten has been building a dossier of potential targets for over 12 months. Yet here we are, supposedly looking at a deal that would make a 31-year-old the club’s youngest senior striker.
Steidten has been on the lookout for a striker for months
Yesterday’s article and videos on the same subject were littered with Hammers fans stating that Fullkrug was a ‘good player’ and ‘decent value’, and I would agree with both.
However, if it has now transpired that West Ham is indeed looking to recruit a senior striker who represents ‘good value’ to get us through the next couple of seasons, something has gone wrong on a massive scale.
We tried to sign him in January so hes been on our radar for a good while. Hes done well at Dortmund, scored in the Champions League and scored twice in the Euros. Compare that with Durans record and I’d take him all day long
From what I’ve read fulkrug ,hard working 31 scores goals ,cast your minds back 2 seasons ,does he remind anyone else of a certain Danny Ings, nough said, most of our team 30 something other teams not in europe signing younger players,forest,everton, fulham. Whyvnot w h we were promised when we left home.,
Heād be a great signing for us. Heās an old fashioned striker. He knows where goal is and would be a nightmare for defenders. Forget his age, heās fit and strong. Get him in I say as Villa want far too much for Duran who in my book isnāt worth the Ā£40m Villa price.
now I would look for a faster attacker for the left wing. Someone who can switch between left wing and striker a bit like Bowen. Although we could Antonio there or even Kudus.
Not bothered about Duran and his questionable character and price tag. I like a player who youād be proud to have on the back of your kids shirt. Bowen for instance. No controversy there.
Now letās take Fullkrug. A cult hero in Germany the last few years. The Germans love him and I have a sneaky suspicion he could be exactly the kind of player West Ham fans will love too. I could see him becoming a cult hero at West Ham too. Heās the type of striker Lopetegui loves. Looetegui likes an older experienced striker who plays the traditional no9 role because fit him itās all about the wide players. I hope we get Fullkrug. Hopefully we get a younger faster striker too, because we play different teams with different formations and one size doesnāt fit all.
Iām hoping and preying this rumour is absolute bs 25 million for a 31 yr old if this is our number 1 target get ready for a long season!!! Why are still offering more money on players that have stated on more than one occasion that they donāt wanna come yet we wonāt offer the extra 3/4 million for someone who does wanna play for us it doesnāt make any sense and now forest are about to sign jota for a ridiculous low fee someone we have been looking at for months I can honestly see Tim quitting soon quickly followed by loopy cause this transfer window has Sullivan grubby little hands all over it we need him out of our club asap if we want to become serious !!!!!!!
Why do so many West Ham fans feel that if we don’t buy young players it goes against ‘what the fans were sold’? Why do so many feel like it’s their right to demand a certain profile of player? When you go to McDonald’s, as i’m sure many do, and your burger doesn’t look like the picture, do you complain or do you just put up and shut up? And that’s something you are in control of!! I find these comments so childish, like what you were sold by the club in terms of the creation of the squad was chiseled in stone and should be held up as gospel truth. Christ alive, stop moaning and get on with your lives and if judging the owners and the director of football and the manager is so important to you, do it at the end of the window…. for gawd’s sakes!
I think IF we were looking at bringing in two strikers, a proven, experienced one, at a very reasonable price plus a younger one who needs to develop, then Fullkrug could be a decent choice to help along the younger player.
Obviously bringing in two would probably mean us shifting Antonio and Ings, which doesnāt look likely.
Fullkrug was a target last year, so hardly a sudden decision. Ridiculous to suggest that because WH has two senior forwards who don’t score many that another would also not score many. The Villa bloke would be a disaster, only out for himself.
Letās all just wait and watch us quietly land Gyokeres.
You lot would be losing your sh@t if Moyes had bought him. Steidten seems to get a free ride with the fan base
In reality Steidtenās track record to date does not seem so shabby. In the past pretty much everyone we signed we would never recover our money when we came to sell them. Thatās changing and to be honest it was probably the biggest issue that we had as a club. Buying players and then selling them for 50% of the original fee (and there are plenty of examples) stops you ever advancing. Buying players who increase in value is why teams like Brighton and Brentford have caught up with us despite our far bigger following.
Could it be Gonzo that we are going to use the majority of the money available for a player in a different area? Say, for example left side of attacking midfielder or a top centre back?
Whilst Iām not enamoured by the Fullkrug link, Iāve looked at his playing style, goal scoring record etc and if he comes for Ā£20m then this might be a very astute stop gap until next summer where we may have more money available to go for a big money striker signing
might even be a loan deal? Haven’t seen anything about price negotiations.
There was some speculation Dortmund were looking for ā¬25m-ā¬30m. Think it might have been from someone at Sky Sports in Germany who Tweeted it.
Perfect for him and us.
@deathblow
I donāt think many would disagree with your assessment of Sullivan or Fullkrug who as you rightly point appears a decent footballer and hard working, the issue I have is that his signing it could be argued goes against the ethos we as fans have been sold ergo we want to sign young hungry players, to both reduce the age of squad and to give our team some much needed energy. Given our alleged original targets fitted the young hungry model, the potential signing of Fullkrug would indicate a complete change of transfer policy direction. People have the right to question that change as fans, whether youāre in favour of that change of direction or not, and this is a fan site after all.
I love you writing, so please don’t think my ire was aimed at you!
Do we really know what our plans are?
Forgive me if they have been aired in public by our top brass, but if not, we are going by what we read on here and everywhere else.
Who knows what’s really true? Or, are we being fed stuuf, quoted everywhere, but the club are going in a direction they don’t want us to know?
Keep up the good work, Martin. We can all tell you know your stuff and are longer-suffering like the rest of us!!!!
A German international who has played in a Champion’s League Final and is probably at the peak of his career. Yes, he’s probably got 3 or 4 years left and it’s not the 23-24 year old we feel we need, but I’d be very happy with him. A powerful, physical striker who I imagine will adapt to the Premier League very quickly, is professional and does a good honest job
This guy’s being quoted at Ā£25 million +. Hardly seems a bargain and sure we might get 6-12 months of quality from him, but what then another over the hill name on big wages running down a contract and no resale value. Get Wahi and Alberto stop with the nonsense and farce.
Totally agree, we need Pace and guile up top to make our system work, those 2 players would fit the bill, not Fullrag who is about the same price
You stir up so much unrest on here and all this crap makes it more difficult for our club. Not just you, but all the rest of the doom and gloomers one minute, and up the next.
He would be fantastic for us but I suppose you’d rather either end up with just Antonio and kids, or some mercenary who would rip the heart out of our finances and wage structure and may never score more than 10 goals a season, and be posting all his ills on Instagram the minute he gets dropped.
I wish you and all the rest of the gossip-mongers didn’t exist because you feed the most hysterical and over-expectant fanbase.
Steidten knows this guy well, we may well end up with him on loan, and he will give 100%. He’s an honest pro, family man, and doesn’t air his dirty laundry on social media like our ownership do.
Our club is rotten from the top and the club will never be succesful because everyone at the club knows the owner isn’t serious and this is his toy, not a serious project – and this comes out of his mouth on Talksh*te, tabloid media and his favored gossip site. Not to mention the money-grabbing dame.
You never get this from successful clubs. The top has to want what is best for the club not for the owner’s own pocket.
Yes he’s coughed-up millions but a huge amount has been utterly wasted. What could we have been with wise spending? ‘Presents’ that he wants but not the manager. Hideous.
Like top strikers grow on trees, yeah?
Every club wants one and the best go to the top clubs, not us, and definitely not to clubs not playing in Europe with a cheap option manager who, let’s face, it is here because we didn’t have to pay a fee for him and frankly no ambitious young manager would come and work under Sullivan.
I’m amazed Steidten has. He really should’ve joined Bayern instead, but he saw there that the top brass have lost the plot without the full control of Rummenigge and Hoeness.
Bayern are a prime example of when you appoint the wrong people to run your club you lose the control you once had, slip down the league, can’t get a great coach, and you sign sub-standard (for them) players.
Are you Sullivan in disguise š¤”
The only thing that’s gone wrong was Moyes and his management and recruitment methods. We’re not in Europe so we’re getting 2nd dibs because all the 1st dibs won’t look at us. We just need to accept it. Take the players who do fancy us and build on it. Stop wasting time on prospective top notch marquee signings. If the german can get us 15/20 goals so be it. Get back into Europe and start again.
Exactly what I’ve said all along without any european football we ain’t a big draw for some players, we should be trying to get a few established championship players for the time being ? until sullivan has gone we won’t get much joy
Nothing wrong with a stop gap Gonzo. Moyes was reported by Sky to have regretted not signing him when offered the chance. Arnautovic and Antonio didn’t start as strikers and if there’s more money to strengthen the other areas, we can still improve. Last season we did score goals it’s the 74 conceded that stopped us from finishing higher.
Stop Gap FC.
Don’t give the club an easy ride on this. They’ve no issue hiking season tickets and removing concessionary pricing. The phrase ‘Too expensive’ doesn’t enter their vocabulary then.
Are you convinced they’ll actually spend big on other areas if they go with a cheap option up top? Can’t see it myself.
we need 2 strikers so surly Fullkrug is a decent backup to the main striker (hopefully Durran) we will also get in.
Totally agree prem sides should have a minimum of 2 strikers …some have 3 …Antonio isn’t even a proper forward…there clueless….should just pay the money for duran…..idiots
seriously ??? have you a lot of experience in this area of business,? just let those who entrusted with the job get on with it
Silva to Forest , El Nesyri to Turkey ā¦typical WH / Sullyā¦Villa playing hardball so Pearl Diver now in panic modeā¦3 weeks to lift off and looking like Ings / Antonio it is ā¦the Red Bull Model ??
I doubt we were ever interested in Silva or En/Nesyri otherwise these would have been the ācheapā options right up Sullivanās street.
Agree. At those prices we would have them licketysplit.
Why is it a failure? Perhaps we canāt find – at a reasonable price – a younger striker that we want. A player like this, at a decent price could provide a solution for two or three years and allow us to strengthen in other places.
totally agree, Dudley. Who does he think we’re going to sign, a world class striker?!!!
I am dead against the Villa guy as he is trouble and still unproven.
Villa are pulling Sullivan’s pants down and he doesn’t realize. I mean, how the hell did we get to offering one of our top prospects (yes unproven but he loves our club) for the Villa mercenary?
This is what Gonzo should be getting his panties in a wad over.
If we already have 2 other strikers over 30yrs why do we want/need another, who is unproven in the premier league.