The January transfer window is less than two months away and Premier League clubs are preparing to rejig their squads – even if it means casting off big-money signings
The agent of West Ham flop Niclas Fullkrug admits that a departure would ‘make sense’ in the January transfer window. Fullkrug, 32, joined the Irons from Borussia Dortmund for a cool £27million in the summer of 2024.
But 15 months and three managers later, the striker has made just 27 appearances and scored three goals. Fullkrug was coming off the back of helping Dortmund reach the Champions League final and playing for Germany at Euro 2024 on home soil, but he hasn’t shown his European pedigree in East London.
In fact, the German’s most memorable moment in a West Ham shirt came off the pitch. Following their 1-1 draw at home to already relegated Southampton in April, Fullkrug made headlines for blasting his team-mates and calling their performance ‘s***’ in a fiery post-match interview.
Now his time at the London Stadium appears to be coming to an end, having only played once under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo due to injury. Speaking on the TOMorrow Business Podcast, Fullkrug’s representative, Thorsten Wirth, said that his client was ‘basically made for the Premier League‘, but admitted that his move to West Ham has been a failure.
“Looking back, we have to say the transfer didn’t work out,” Wirth said. “There’s no point in sugarcoating it.”
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Asked if Fullkrug should leave the Premier League, Wirth replied: “This always has to happen in cooperation with the club, but I believe it can make sense to change something there.”
The agent also argued that injuries have been a major factor in Fullkrug’s struggles. The 32-year-old was sidelined for nearly three months on two occasions last season.
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. He had a bit of a negative momentum and also some bad luck.”
Who’s been this season’s biggest flop signing? Let us know your pick in the comments section.
Nuno refused to put a timeline on Fullkrug’s return when speaking ahead of Sunday’s much-needed 3-1 win against Newcastle. “Still not totally sure when but he’s started already on the grass, not totally with the group,” the West Ham boss explained. “We expect it is going to be fast.”
The Irons, who remain in the relegation zone, host Burnley on Saturday in their final match before the November international break.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
