AC Milan now odds-on favourites to sign Premier League striker in January deal
AC Milan have emerged among the favourites to sign West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug in the January transfer window.
Several Bundesliga clubs are chasing Fullkrug, who joined the Hammers from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2024.
The 32-year-old has suffered from several injury issues during his time at the London Stadium, and now appears ready to call time on his Premier League stay.
West Ham are open to selling Fullkrug, with the striker now falling behind Callum Wilson in the pecking order.
Should the German depart, West Ham will look to spend around £20million on a striker in the January transfer window.
AC Milan lead several others in race for Niclas Fullkrug
West Ham have reportedly offered Fullkrug in a swap with AC Milan, with Mexico international Santiago Gimenez discussed.
The striker moved to Italy in February following several strong seasons in the Eredivisie with Feyenoord, but he has failed to build on a strong start this season.
| Santiago Gimenez | Serie A 2025-26 |
| Appearances | 9 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 2.83 |
| Penalties won | 2 |
Injury has kept the forward out of action for the last month, which may well dissuade the Hammers from moving for the 24-year-old.
Fullkrug arrived at West Ham off the back of a brilliant Bundesliga season and a positive European Championship campaign with Germany, and looked to be a real coup.
But injures instantly hit, with the former Werder Bremen man spending around four months on the injury table in his first campaign.
Fullkrug looked to have enjoyed a positive pre-season in the summer but the issues have returned in recent months, with the striker now resigned to the bench in Nuno Espirito Santo‘s team.
Odds on AC Milan signing the Germany international have been slashed to 1/4 in recent days, leading Wolfsburg (6/1) and Eintracht Frankfurt (8/1) according to one major bookmaker.
Nuno Espirito Santo still searching for West Ham main man
In November, Wilson spoke about making an audacious late bid for Thomas Tuchel‘s World Cup squad next year.
The striker scored against Burnley, and backed up his words by netting a brace against his former side Bournemouth in the following game.
But in recent weeks, Wilson has had to settle for a spot back on the bench, as Nuno attempts to find a consistent solution at the head of his attack.
Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville were used as a make-shift front two in Sunday’s narrow loss to Aston Villa, but the former Nottingham Forest boss is still yet to find his West Ham version of Chris Wood.
A new striker in the winter would appear to be the perfect solution for Nuno, but whether chairman David Sullivan is ready to back his head coach remains to be seen.