Wages could play a part in Serie A move for West Ham star | OneFootball

West Ham talks gather pace as Milan make move for misfiring striker

West Ham’s January plans are beginning to crystallise, and according to GiveMeSport, events are now moving quickly around Niclas Fullkrug. AC Milan have flown into London for talks, a clear indication that the Italian club are serious about securing the German forward when the transfer window opens.

GiveMeSport sources indicate that Milan want the Hammers’ striker, but only on specific terms. The proposed structure is a loan with a view to a permanent move, dependent on Fullkrug completing a set number of appearances between January and the end of the season. His salary, understood to be close to £100,000-a-week, means Milan can only currently afford a temporary arrangement.

Photo IMAGO

Milan meeting imminent

West Ham officials are due to meet Milan representatives in the next 24 hours in an attempt to thrash out a deal. The speed of those talks reflects a shared understanding that Fullkrug’s time in East London is close to an end.

The striker’s agent went public last month, admitting it is in “everyone’s best interest” if his client leaves after Christmas. That statement now feels less like positioning and more like preparation.

Signing that never settled

Fullkrug arrived in July 2024 with expectations of experience and goals. Instead, his spell has unravelled. He has scored only three times since joining, has not started a match since October 4, and is now viewed internally as surplus to requirements.

Injuries have disrupted his rhythm, but the broader assessment at West Ham is blunt. The deal is regarded as a mistake made under the now departed Tim Steidten, and there is a willingness to correct course swiftly.

Rebuild pressure grows

West Ham’s league position sharpens the urgency. Sitting in the bottom three, Nuno Espirito Santo is pushing for a striker who can deliver the goals needed for survival. Enquiries have already been made for Norwich City’s Josh Sargent and Union Saint-Gilloise forward Promise David, who prefers to go by Toby.

Other names under consideration include Joshua Zirkzee, Chris Wood and Troy Parrott. That breadth of options underlines how open the club are to reshaping the attack, even mid season.

For Fullkrug, Milan offers an escape route and a chance to reset. For West Ham, this is about minimising damage and regaining momentum in a season that has drifted dangerously.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Fullkrug never truly looked settled, and watching a £100,000-a-week striker struggle to start games while the club slide into the bottom three has been painful for West Ham supporters. If Milan are willing to take him, even on loan, most fans will see it as a necessary step rather than an admission of defeat.

There is frustration at how quickly the signing has unravelled. Supporters were promised experience and reliability, but instead saw injuries, hesitation and a player who looked uncomfortable in the Premier League’s tempo. The agent’s comment about it being in “everyone’s best interest” for him to leave felt like confirmation of what fans already suspected.

What matters now is the replacement. West Ham fans are realistic. January is difficult, and there are no guarantees. But the club must act. Names like Sargent or Promise David suggest a willingness to look for energy and hunger, not reputation.

Expectant is the right word. Supporters are not dreaming of Europe, they are demanding urgency, clarity and competence. Move Fullkrug on, free the wage, and give the manager a forward who wants the fight. Survival comes first, and sentiment cannot get in the way of that.