On The Naughty Step | Why West Ham Must Think Twice Before Ditching Fullkrug

During a week of West Ham transfer speculation meltdown — dominated by rumours of players leaving rather than arriving — one story slipped quietly under the radar.

Because buried beneath the tsunami of names seemingly up for sale at the London Stadium was that of striker Niclas Füllkrug.

Nobody has said it directly, of course, but Claret & Hugh reported on Wednesday that only Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and some academy players were safe from the chop. Since then, ExWHUEmployee has added Crysencio Summerville to that list — a revelation that says far more about who might be leaving than who’s staying.

In many respects, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Füllkrug could be made available. Since joining West Ham for £27m, he’s spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch.

However, his recent return from injury has offered a glimpse of just how influential he could be. In short — West Ham are a better team when he’s in it.

What impressed me personally was his willingness to speak openly following the 1–1 draw with Southampton, where he publicly blamed his teammates for not following instructions.

While Graham Potter appeared less enthused by the outburst, saying:
“Niclas wears his heart on his sleeve, and he’s entitled to his opinion. For me, it’s better to have conversations in private. You have to be able to be honest, and to think about the team as well,”
— it was exactly the kind of leadership, passion, and accountability that’s been sorely missing at West Ham for some time.

There are plenty of reasons not to keep Füllkrug — his age, injury record, and ability to ruffle a few feathers to name a few.

But I’ll admit, I’m surprised to see him on the unofficial “can leave” list. Because with the right fitness and backing, he has the character and quality that could make the difference between another relegation scrap and a solid mid-table finish next season.