With every week that goes by, potential landing spots for West Ham United striker Niclas Fullkrug appear to be disappearing off the map. AC Milan, the latest to remove their name from the frame.
Shortly after Serie A expert Gianluca di Marzio revealed that Fullkrug would relish a fresh start in Italy, two of the division’s footballing powerhouses have yanked up the rope.
Thus, leaving West Ham United’s injury-hit Germany international stuck in a pit of confusion and uncertainty with no escape in sight.
Fast-starters Roma reportedly want to sign a different profile in attack, if they are to strengthen Gian Piero Gasperini’s league-leading side in January. According to Tuttomercatoweb, meanwhile, AC Milan have reservations about signing a centre-forward who will turn 33 in February.
It is alleged that a return to the Bundesliga is more likely at this stage than a fresh start in Serie A.
Yet, Stuttgart have ruled out bringing Fullkrug back home. The veteran’s wages are a ‘hurdle’ for Wolfsburg and Augsburg.
So with over a month left before the window opens, no fewer than five of Fullkrug’s reported suitors appear to have either backed out of contention, or have seen their chances played down.
Massimiliano Allegri, the venerable head coach of AC Milan, hardly fuelled those ‘Fullkrug to San Siro’ rumours when asked over the weekend about the centre-forward situation at the Rossoneri.
Allegri also gave his backing to the under-fire Santiago Gimenez, amid reports that the Mexican could join West Ham as part of a January swap deal.
Massimiliano Allegri explains why Milan do not need West Ham United’s Niclas Fullkrug
On paper, Fullkrug to Milan makes a degree of sense.
Numerous 30-something centre-forwards have made an almighty splash in Italian football in recent years, after all.
Former San Siro favourite Olivier Giroud just one of many who, while enjoying a late-career resurgence in red and black, also did little to dispel Serie A’s reputation as something of a cushy retirement home for near-pension-age number nines.
Allegri, who won five successive Scudettos with Juventus, appears to have little interest in signing a physical, classic centre-forward in the mould of a Giroud or a Fullkrug though.
Why do you think Niclas Fullkrug failed?
“I’ve often played without a centre-forward,” Allegri told TMW, speaking after wingers Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao started up top during the 1-0 Milan derby victory over Inter.
“[Zlatan] Ibrahimovic rarely played as a centre-forward with me. [Kevin-Price] Boateng did it more. [Carlos] Tevez and [Alvaro] Morata too, they didn’t have the qualities of a [typical] centre-forward.”
Allegri says Santiago Gimenez will come good in Serie A
Allegri points out that the four men at the top of the Serie A scoring charts right now alongside ex-Chelsea wideman Pulisic, are Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglou, Como playmaker Nico Paz, and Bologna schemer Riccardo Orsolini.
All are on five apiece.
In a season of few prolific marksman, Allegri is content enough to rely on Pulisic, Leao and Christopher ‘not quite a nine, not quite a ten’ Nkunku for the remainder of the campaign.
Alongside the aforementioned Gimenez, of course.
Who is your no 1 striker signing for West Ham? And is Santiago Gimenez really good enough?
The former Feyenoord poacher is yet to score across nine league appearances in 2025/26. Allegri is confident that duck will be broken though, once Gimenez returns from an injury which kept him out of that triumph over Inter.
“Gimenez is an important player. He has finishing ability and has scored enough to come here,” said the 58-year-old tactician. “He arrived during the season [last January], which is never easy.
“This year he returned well. He’s put in good performances. He is an important player. He will score goals.”
The feeling back home in Mexico is that Santiago Gimenez is fairly ill-suited to Premier League football, anyway. Only West Ham – with their abysmal record of signing centre-forwards – could sign a centre-forward more ill-suited to Premier League football than Niclas Fullkrug.
Hammers News can confirm that Milan would want around £30 million to part with Gimenez.
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