Credit: Imago

Oliver Walton

Mon 16 March 2026 18:45, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo did the right thing in allowing Niclas Fullkrug to leave the club on loan in the January window.

The German striker has now gone eight games without a goal for AC Milan after their 1-0 loss to Lazio on Sunday evening.

He joined the Italian giants at the start of the winter window on loan from the Hammers, but has only scored once in 13 appearances as they falter in the title race behind rivals Inter.

West Ham remain in the Premier League relegation zone as it stands, but their January forward signings, namely Taty Castellanos and Pablo, have both impressed so far.

The Hammers’ summer transfer plans are on the back burner for now as they battle relegation, but they can rest assured that Nuno was correct to sanction Fullkrug’s departure, regardless of what happens this season.

Why did Niclas Fullkrug leave West Ham?

Fullkrug arrived as a marquee £27million signing for West Ham from Borussia Dortmund in 2024, but never really got going in his debut season in England.

He netted just three times in 20 appearances last season, amid recurring injury issues, but stayed on beyond last summer as an option under Graham Potter.

His September departure saw Fullkrug go on to struggle for game time under new boss Nuno, and he was ousted from the matchday squad during December as an exit loomed in the new year.

Nuno soon sanctioned Fullkrug’s loan to Milan and went on to admit that “it was not working” for him at the London Stadium, and “he never really got going” following his arrival as manager.

Now that he has continued to struggle in Serie A, and West Ham look much more threatening in the final third with their new signings, it is safe to say that it was the correct call to let him go.

Which other players could leave West Ham soon amid relegation fears?

Fullkrug clearly has no future at West Ham, but they could be forced to find a new suitor for his services in the summer after new reports out of Italy stated that Milan are not prepared to trigger the option to buy in his loan deal.

Concerns have been raised around the futures of their key players, as well as those out of favour, with sources telling Football Insider that club captain Bowen is likely to leave West Ham if they are relegated.

Crysencio Summerville is another who would surely depart if they dropped into the Championship, while Mateus Fernandes is catching the eye and will likely be of interest to numerous Premier League sides in the summer.