West Ham fans divided as ‘unreal’ Niclas Fullkrug swap could see £30m striker join

Add as preferred source on Google

Imagine a world in which West Ham United could get Niclas Fullkrug off the books while, at the very same time, replacing him with a striker who scored 26 goals in a title-winning season under Arne Slot?

If that sounds too good to be true then, yes, of course there are caveats.

Moving on from Niclas Fullkrug – after 15 months, eleven Premier League starts, and just three goals – would be a decision which certainly draws applause from large sections of the West Ham United support. Fullkrug had lost the faith of many in the London Stadium even before his latest injury-enforced absence.

And though Nuno Espirito Santo insists that Fullkrug is still part of West Ham’s plans, Hammers News can confirm that the manager has told the board that a new striker is a must in the January transfer window.

Now, with a return to Germany cast into doubt, could Italian giants AC Milan emerge as the most likely solution to Fullkrug’s East London malaise? Tuttomercatoweb reports that the Germany international is under consideration for a move to Serie A, where countless 30-something centre-forwards have enjoyed a late-career resurgence.

Milan, it is suggested, may even be willing to offer up Santiago Gimenez as part of a swap-focused arrangement.

AC Milan could reportedly swap Santiago Gimenez for West Ham United’s Niclas Fullkrug

Now, depending on whether you are in the pro-Gimenez camp or the anti-Gimenez camp may depend on how much you trust the Eredivisie.

For every Luis Suarez, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cody Gakpo, there are plenty of Matija Kezmans, Vincent Janssens and Afonso Alves. In short, a prolific goalscoring record in the Netherlands is no guarantee of success elsewhere.

Even at Feyenoord, where Gimenez scored 65 times in 105 games, there were long spells in which the Mexican appeared unable to strike the proverbial barndoor with a double-bass, let alone a banjo.

Since moving to the San Siro for £30 million in January, meanwhile, Gimenez has scored only seven times in 30 matches.

Is he a reclamation project West Ham would be willing to take on? While some are happy enough to overlook a difficult stint in Italy – Rossoneri legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic likened the ex-Cruz Azul star to none other than himself ten months ago – there are others fearing that Gimenez would join a long list of Hammers striking flops.

Hammers fans divided over Gimenez rumours

Tim Steidten will forever be tainted by Niclas Fullkrug‘s disastrous spell in claret and blue. The struggles of Gianluca Scamacca, Jonathan Calleri, Sebastian Haller, Simone Zaza and more have supporters understandably wary, even of centre-forwards with a solid-enough reputation behind them.

Others, though, are willing to take a punt on a man who has 14 Europa and Champions League goals in 22 appearances.

“Yes please, both [on a] loan [and] with an option in the summer. I think Gimenez is really good despite his bad spell at Milan,” one supporter writes on X.

“We need a mobile striker, not players like Fullkrug and such. Definitely would be a great signing,” another agrees. “Then again, our strikers need service, a problem we’ve had for the last couple years to be honest. Nonetheless, I’d say loan with option to buy would be the dream move.

“[Gimenez] would be unreal.”

“He was immense at Feyenoord.”

“Love for this to happen.”

West Ham have seen this story before. A Mexican poacher taking the London Stadium by storm. Could Gimenez, as one supporter puts it, be Javier Hernandez Part 2? A sequel with a new actor in the leading role?

Or, as more pessimistic members of the Hammers fanbase put it;

“No thanks, [Gimenez] has been a complete failure since moving to Serie A.”

“Gimenez isn’t a focal point striker nor pacey. Doesn’t fit what we need.”

“Someone give us a transfer ban, ASAP!”