If money was no object, there would be a very obvious name at the top of West Ham United’s striker wishlist heading into the January transfer window and with the departure of Niclas Fullkrug looming.
Unfortunately, money is an object. And it just so happens that West Ham United don’t have a huge amount of it right now.
Hammers News’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey explained back in October that West Ham may have to ‘raise funds’ before they spend in the New Year.
Like with Mohammed Kudus’ July switch to Tottenham Hotspur – that sale freed up the funds for El Hadji Malick Diouf, Mads Hermansen and Mateus Fernandes – Nuno Espirito Santo’s spending power may be severely restricted without a very well-timed windfall.
Of course, Niclas Fullkrug could provide said windfall. Fabrizio Romano reports that teams in his native Germany and beyond have reached out. But, on the other hand, Fullkrug’s wages will be a substantial ‘hurdle’ many of his suitors simply cannot clear.
Expensive, marquee striker additions seem unlikely, then. West Ham may instead have to look at loans, or taking a punt on a younger, more ‘unproven’ option.
Of course, Ivan Toney would be the first name on the lips of many fans. The majority actually, according to a poll we ran on Hammers News this week.
This, though, is a £40 million striker earning a reported £400,000-a-week in Saudi Arabia. If those Toney links felt too good to be true – Alan Nixon claimed in October that West Ham are ‘working on’ a potential deal – there may be a very good reason for that.
Most West Ham United fans want Ivan Toney to take Niclas Fullkrug’s place
Hammers News ran a poll over the last few days, asking readers to name their preferred replacement for Niclas Fullkrug. We provided four options; Toney, Joshua Zirkzee, Endrick and Kaio Jorge.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given that Toney scored 20 Premier League goals for Brentford as recently as the 2022/23 season, he received 70 per cent of the vote as of 5pm on Friday evening.
Who would you pick to replace Niclas Fullkrug at West Ham?
Interestingly, Zirkzee found himself level with Real Madrid benchwarmer Endrick, on 11 per cent apiece. It does not reflect kindly on Zirkzee’s time at Manchester United that some would rather pick a 19-year-old who has played a grand total of 11 appearances all season for Real Madrid.
Stylish and skilful he may be, but Zirkzee has scored only three Premier League goals in 36 games for the Red Devils. West Ham would be replacing Fullkrug – who has a trio of top-flight strikes himself in the same timeframe – with one of the few centre-forwards in English football arguably boasting less of a presence in the final third.
All those highlight reel flicks mean little when Zirkzee’s pea-roller shots are being collected under a goalkeeper’s cap.
Endrick, though, seems set for Lyon instead.
Cruzeiro marksman Kaio Jorge makes up the remaining 6 per cent or so of our poll. The one-time Brazil international has racked up a formidable 24 goals in 42 matches in 2025. Hammers News were told that West Ham were offered Kaio Jorge via intermediaries, though the one-time Juventus starlet is keen to stay in Brazil ahead of the World Cup.
Franculino Dju and Republic of Ireland hat-trick hero Troy Parrott have been linked
Other options have appeared in the last few days.
However, FC Midjtylland seem determined to keep Franculino Dju. The Guinea Bissau net-buster who terrorised Celtic in the Europa League recently.
West Ham have discussed Ireland hero Troy Parrott too, though reporter Ben Jacobs tells Give Me Sport that Fulham may be a more likely destination for the AZ Alkmaar talisman.
Hammers News understands Fullkrug will only be allowed to leave if West Ham have a replacement lined up. With Toney on enormous wages, Ruben Amorim hoping to retain Zirkzee, Endrick heading to France and Kaio Jorge in no rush to leave Brazil, finding said replacement may be easier said than done.
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