Niclas Fullkrug targets West Ham exit in January as striker seeks Bundesliga move to save World Cup dream | OneFootball

German has struggled since £27m move to London Stadium

Niclas Fullkrug is ready to leave West Ham in January and favours a return to Germany.

The 32-year-old striker has endured a difficult 15 months at West Ham since his £27million move from Borussia Dortmund in August 2024.

Fullkrug has been hit by a succession of injuries, including hamstring and Achilles problems.

It means he has missed 24 games for West Ham through injury. He has featured in 27 games but scored only three times for the Hammers.

Fullkrug has scored just three goals in 15 months at West Ham

Getty Images

Fullkrug appeared in pole position for game-time up front under Nuno Espirito Santo when he was selected to start both of the new manager’s first two games, but has since missed their last four matches due to a fresh thigh muscle bundle tear.

Standard Sport understands he wishes to leave West Ham in January and call time on his spell in England.

There is already contact between his representatives and interested clubs in Germany but no deal has been agreed yet, with the January window still six weeks away from opening.

Fullkrug was a key player for Germany at Euro 2024 but has not played for the national team since June.

His agent Thorsten Wirth spoke publicly on the TOMorrow Business Podcast earlier this month, indicating it was time for Fullkrug and West Ham to part ways.

“Looking back, we have to say the transfer didn’t work out,” he said. “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.”

Wirth added: “Time and again, at a point where you said, ‘Now he’s coming, now he’ll show England that it wasn’t just a good European Championship and then nothing more will come of it,’ another injury came along, and that’s a shame.”