There are already four centre-forwards who have represented both West Ham United and AS Roma, while Niclas Fullkrug could take that tally to five during the upcoming January transfer window.
After Hammers News confirmed that Niclas Fullkrug may be allowed to leave the London Stadium just a year-and-a-half after his big-money arrival from Borussia Dortmund, some in Italy believe that Serie A is a likely destination.
Gianluca di Marzio claims that Fullkrug ‘wanted to come to’ Serie A before joining West Ham United for a reported £27 million. One of the most respected Italian-based reporters around would not be surprised to see Roma make a move now, heading into 2026.
Despite reaching the summit over the weekend – thanks partly to Inter’s 1-0 derby defeat by bitter rivals Milan – Gian Piero Gasperini’s Scudetto-chasers have actually scored the fewest goals in the top seven.
Evan Ferguson endured a 27-game barren run before finally opening his Giallorossi account during Sunday’s 3-1 win at Cremonese. And, speaking of Ferguson, the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee is one of four strikers to wear both the claret and blue of the Hammers and the iconic reddish maroon of Roma.
An exclusive club which also includes John Carew, Mido and Marco Borriello. Four strikers who mustered just two goals from a combined 38 West Ham appearances.
Carew, by the way, is responsible for both of those.
David di Michele, arguably, drifts away from the ‘flop’ section of the Venn diagram and closer to the ‘cult hero’ circle. Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, Di Michele recalls the breakdown of his aborted transfer to the Stadio Olimpico in 2008, and explains why he moved to Upton Park instead.
David di Michele joined West Ham United from Torino on deadline day
The enigmatic Italian scored only four times himself during 30 Premier League appearances in the 2008/09 season. Yet, some supporters – and a few former players – still look back fondly on his brief spell in English football.
When it comes to successful centre-forwards, after all, it is very thin gruel.
“It was a very adventurous thing,” Di Michele recalls. “That year, I was at Torino and was supposed to go to Roma, coached by [Luciano] Spalletti.
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“All the agreements were in place but, at the last minute, [Torino president Urbano] Cairo didn’t want to send me to Rome. I missed that train. But, at that point, I couldn’t stay in Turin because I would have been out of the squad for six months.
“At one point, just minutes before the transfer market closed at midnight, my agent called me saying, ‘David, there’s West Ham.’ Without thinking, I said, ‘OK, let’s go’.
“After all, I wanted to play and the Premier League had always excited me.”
Di Michele was delighted when West Ham hired Gianfranco Zola
Alan Curbishley would resign in acrimony around 48 hours after Di Michele touched down in the English capital. Much to his relief, though, West Ham would quickly turn to a certain Italian icon.
“When I arrived at West Ham, they immediately sacked the coach. But it was lucky for me. In fact, Gianfranco Zola arrived on the bench right away,” adds Di Michele. “Zola didn’t just help me, he truly guided me in every way in English football.
“That’s why I always thanked him for what he did for me, trying to repay him on the field.
“I had great teammates like Scott Parker, Mark Noble… All people who played for the national team, training for them was [like] a real match.”
The nomadic frontman marked his West Ham career in style. A fine brace against Newcastle in a 3-1 victory at Upton Park, best remembered by a gorgeous flick and finish.
Carlton Cole was reminded of the great Paolo di Canio
Another former teammate, Carlton Cole saw shades of Paolo di Canio in a man who would go on to represent Lecce, Chievo and Reggina before hanging up his boots nearly a decade ago.
“What a player he was! His movement…” Cole recalled, speaking to The Dressing Room podcast a few months ago. “He was, like, quite small. He didn’t look like a footballer. If you looked at him you’d think, ‘is he an athlete?’
“But then he gets on the pitch and sometimes he could be Zola-esque. [Di Michele had] these little touches.
Why do you think Niclas Fullkrug failed?
“He was the only player who came up to me – because I was the main striker at the time – and said, ‘Coley, I am just going to look for you. I want you to score’. And I was like ‘Wow!’ because usually it’s a competition isn’t it, to get more goals [than your teammates]?
“[Di Michele said] ‘If you’re in a better position, I’m passing to you and I want you to score. If you have an opportunity, you shoot and we will win the game’. I’m like, ‘That is actually what you are supposed to say!’
“I saw him and I looked at the game a little bit differently. It was weird, just to have that. He was so good as well, [reminiscent of] Di Canio, another Italian.
“They just read the game different.”
As for Fullkrug, Nuno Espirito Santo insists that the German is still part of West Ham’s plans.
He was typically ineffective off the bench, though, during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. And with Callum Wilson taking his tally to four goals in four Premier League starts, Fullkrug might have featured in Nuno’s XI for the last time.
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