Claret & Hugh have learned within the past few minutes that Niclas Füllkrug’s exit from West Ham United is currently being blocked because the club are refusing to sanction a free transfer.
The former German international, who was recently dropped from Germany’s World Cup squad, has been informed by Nuno Espírito Santo that he will never play for West Ham again. It’s also fair to say that the 33 year old has little interest in returning to East London.
We have been informed a club has already been found willing to take Füllkrug on a permanent deal and cover his wages in full, but without paying any transfer fee.
That proposal has now been rejected by West Ham.
West Ham Reluctant To Write Off €27m Deal
The Hammers agreed to pay Borussia Dortmund €27 million for the striker and, with the club’s finances already stretched, there appears little appetite internally to allow him to leave for nothing.
The situation now leaves both club and player stuck in limbo.
Füllkrug is not expected to return to the squad, yet West Ham are equally unwilling to simply absorb the full financial loss and wave him through the exit door on a free transfer.
Sullivan And Kretinsky Directly Involved
It has also been relayed to Claret & Hugh that both Daniel Křetínský and David Sullivan are taking an active role in ongoing contract negotiations as West Ham attempt to reduce the wage bill following relegation.
Agents have reportedly been mobilised in an effort to move on multiple players this summer.
And at the very top of that list sits Füllkrug.
Ageing player who should never been bought. This is one thing the club has to start getting right. Unless they are very very special, likes of Harry Cane etc no player at the age of 27 or over should be bought. We were told at one point the club were looking to reduce the average age of the squad and then they brought Fulkrug. Let’s get it right this time!
Loan and they pickup his full wages, then amortization kicks in.
Difficult one for the club. Do you hold out for a fee which will not be near what they paid. Or wipe there mouth and get him off the pay role
Just let him go!
Christ the bloke is 33 and is never going to wear a hammers shirt again, just write it off. Our fault for spending so much money on a donkey
Kretinsky and Sullivan set to take active roles in ongoing transfer negotiations. What could possibly go wrong?
Fullkrug is a write-off. Time to just let him go. He’s a negative influence on the whole club. I understand that every penny counts now, but keeping him around negotiating for a nominal transfer fee seems a waste of time. Let him go and get down to the serious matter of rebuilding a squad for the Championship.
If Fullkrug is just a Halfkrug then maybe tell all the interested clubs that he’s now on special at 50% off (of the price West Ham paid for him). If still no customers then reduce down further to 75% off. Maybe chuck in a complimentary six pack of Beck’s beer to seal the deal. And if the club still can’t do a deal then ask The Donald over in USA if he can help with his amazing (self proclaimed) success at making deals! 🙄