West Ham: Nuno Espirito Santo confirms Niclas Fullkrug plan amid uncertain future

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Evening Standard

·6 de noviembre de 2025

West Ham: Nuno Espirito Santo confirms Niclas Fullkrug plan amid uncertain future

German is weighing up his options ahead of the transfer window

Nuno Espirito Santo has said Niclas Fullkrug remains in his plans despite the striker’s agent linking him with a move away from West Ham in January.

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Thorsten Wirth, Fullkrug’s agent, this week admitted that the German striker’s £27million move to the Hammers had not worked out, and his client was open to a move in the upcoming window to boost his chances of making Germany’s World Cup squad.

Speaking on the TOMorrow Business Podcast, Wirth said: "Looking back, we have to say the transfer didn’t work out. There’s no point in sugar-coating it.

“This always has to happen in cooperation with the club, but I believe it can make sense to change something there."

Asked to comment on Fullkrug’s future, Nuno said he was only focused on getting the striker back to full fitness.

“I understand everybody does their job in this industry. My job is to coach, and [from] what I see, we arrived and Niclas played the first two games, unfortunately got injured, now he's coming back. If we can get him healthy and ready to go, it's another option for the team.”

The 32-year-old has missed 31 games through injury since signing for the Irons last summer, and Nuno confirmed he would miss Saturday’s game with Burnley as he continues his recovery from a thigh injury.

The Hammers’ head coach also added that defender Konstantinos Mavropanos was on the comeback trail from a hamstring injury.

“Both of them are improving, starting to work at different stages, Dinos is still [doing] individual work, Niclas is progressing with the group, [but] not [in] all the parts of the training session.

“Now comes the international break. After that, I'm positive that everything's going to be okay.”

Nuno was cryptic when asked about the rest of his squad ahead of this weekend’s game against Burnley.

The Portuguese would not give names when pushed on which players would be assessed ahead of Saturday.

“Some of them, unfortunately [picked up injuries],” he said.

“After a football match there are always knocks. There are always problems that we have to deal with during the week, but let's see who we still have tomorrow and who is available for the match.

“I can’t confirm [who], I don't want to go much further on that.”

The one player that we do know is definitely ruled out of the Burnley encounter is third-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who is sidelined with a back problem.