According to Sky Sports news reporter Dharmesh Sheth, West Ham United have opened talks to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug.
West Ham have already signed Wes Foderingham, Luis Guilherme and Max Kilman, but signing a new striker has been a top priority for the club in recent weeks.
Additional reinforcements were always going to be on the agenda this summer following the arrival of new manager Julen Lopetegui, as the club has ambitions to bring European football back to the London Stadium next season.
The signing of Kilman was a great opportunity for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss to bring in a player he knows well and considers a leader, something proven when he gave the centre-back the captaincy at Molineux during his short tenure.
Having said that, there is still plenty of work to be done to get the recipe for the perfect attacking threat completed, with Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta proving last season that they can work well with Jarrod Bowen, who has been the leading goal contributor at the club in most recent seasons.
However, with Michail Antonio coming to the latter stages of his career and the sale of Gianluca Scamacca unexpectedly sanctioned last summer, the striker role has been in desperate need of addressing.
Now it appears the Hammers have stepped up their search for the next number nine to make his mark on the East London club, with fresh reports emerging this afternoon that Borussia Dortmund star Niclas Fullkrug could be the latest new addition to join.
Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth took to X to reveal the latest on the potential deal:
“West Ham United have opened talks with Borussia Dortmund over the signing of striker Niclas Fullkrug.”
“West Ham are discussing the conditions of a deal.”
“It is understood Fullkrug is open to the move and personal terms are not expected to be an issue. #WHUFC #BVB”
Should West Ham sign Niclas Fullkrug?
There is no doubt that the Irons must strengthen their centre-forward role this summer and with the final few weeks of the transfer window looming, they will need to move quickly in the market to seal a deal.
Premier League football will return in just over a week’s time, so bringing in a striker over the next few days would give Lopetegui a full week to prepare and work with the new signing before the season begins on the following weekend.
Fullkrug – dubbed “impressive” by former BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl – was a cult hero for Germany during Euro 2024 with a 92nd minute goal scored against Switzerland to secure a top place finish for the home nation in Group A.
The only sticking point surrounding this particular move is that the talented Dortmund hitman is 31 years old and doesn’t present the Hammers with a solution to their striker situation in the long term.
However, if Fullkrug can deliver double figures over the next two seasons it could be the difference in West Ham’s chances of not only qualifying for European football, but ensures they have a forward on their books who has the experience and success of challenging at the highest level on the European stage.
