Finding a striker capable of breaking that so-called West Ham United ‘curse’ is tricky enough for the Premier League outfit, without further complications provided by the difficulties of the January transfer window.
No club ever wants to sell a star performer midway through a season.
Imagine, for instance, if West Ham United were to cash in on Jarrod Bowen in the opening weeks of 2026.
Finding someone capable of emulating Bowen’s influence, leadership, reliability and goal return would be nigh-on impossible. And Nuno Espirito Santo could probably kiss his dreams of a solid mid-table finish goodbye.
Fortunately, when speaking to Hammers News three weeks ago, a West Ham spokesman rubbished the latest Bowen rumours amid an alleged – and long-running interest – from down the road at Tottenham Hotspur.
FC Midtjylland appear to be taking the same approach when it comes to their own free-scoring talisman.
If those Bowen to Spurs rumours were described as pure ‘rubbish’, ‘stupid’ is the description sporting director Kristian Bach Bak gives when asked about the prospect of selling Franculino Dju in the midst of a domestic title challenge.
Kristian Bach Bak says Franculino Dju is not leaving Midtjylland for West Ham United
According to ExWHUEmployee, a Guinea Bissau international with 19 goals in 26 games remains firmly in the club’s sights heading into the New Year.
West Ham failed with a £13 million bid for Franculino Dju towards the end of the summer window, according to Danish publication Bold. Any further offers would be given the same treatment six months on.
“If we win titles and perform well in Europe, then we will both achieve our dreams,” Bach Bak now tells Bold. “This is exactly the journey we want to take with our players. And considering the average age of the first team, it goes without saying that people are keeping an eye on what is happening in FCM.”
Director confident of keeping Europa Leage star in Denmark
Heading into the midpoint of the Danish Superliga season, Midtjylland are a point clear of Brondby at the top. Mike Tullberg’s side also lead the Europa League table with four wins from four.
Franculino Dju scored his 50th goal for The Wolves in a 3-1 dismantling of Celtic, demonstrating the skill and the ruthlessness which has him reportedly in the crosshairs of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
“I do, 100 per cent,” Bach Bak added when asked if he is confident of keeping Midtjylland’s 21-year-old top scorer beyond January. “I do that because Franculino knows that his dream will be achieved if we achieve something big together this season.
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“Football is football, so we shouldn’t talk about amounts and prices. The most important thing is trust and that the club and the player have the same plan.
“So, it’s 100 per cent the plan to keep the team together until the summer, because strategically it would be the stupidest thing to do if we sold out halfway through the season. It is also a plan that has been made with the players.”
Franculino Dju will be allowed to leave Midtjylland in the summer but not January
Head coach Tullberg has implored Midtjylland to keep Franculino in Denmark. The manager is determined to retain their Superliga crown, and also wants progress beyond the last-32 of the Europa League for the first time.
It appears that Tullberg, Bach Bak and Franculino Dju are all on the same page.
“It’s fantastic that clubs like that are being mentioned,” the director added in response to that ongoing Bayern interest. “It’s Franculino’s level, character and goal return that make him interesting for all clubs around the world.
“We are lucky and humbled to have a player like Franculino, and we are happy to have helped develop him.
“Then, the players themselves are in a place where they can take the next step. ‘Francu’ is an example of the strategy that we want as a club. This summer, he will have been here for three years, and then he will also be sent on, because his age also means something for his value.”
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