Earlier this month, Niclas Füllkrug’s agent Thorsten Wirth said his client leave West Ham United in the winter market.
The striker hasn’t received an offer yet and this has already been reported in the UK and elsewhere. Recent claims have mentioned VfL Wolfsburg interest.
AZ/WAZ relay that and then provide their own information on Wolfsburg’s plan to sign the West Ham player. Their title says ‘things are getting serious’ in the Bundesliga side’s pursuit of Füllkrug.
The German club are working on appointing a new sporting director but that isn’t stopping them from planning for the next window.
They are ‘by no means out of the running’ to secure the 32-year-old’s services. Despite not having a sporting director, Wolfsburg have internally discussed various formulas to sign him.
Füllkrug has a contract with the Hammers until 2028. AZ/WAZ reports a loan deal would be conceivable for Wolfsburg in January.
The other option to buy the Germany international where they part of the fee up front and the rest later. There’s belief the frontman’s asking price should be around €10m.
As well as Wolfsburg, VfB Stuttgart, TSG Hoffenheim and Lazio are also interested in the West Ham striker.
The German hasn’t had regular minutes under Nuno Espírito Santo, partly due to an injury. AZ/WAZ claims his situation at West Ham is unlikely to change and therefore, ‘he’s free to leave’ in January.
West Ham paid €27m to buy him and are aware they can’t recoup the money invested. Their aim is to sell Füllkrug and immediately invest that funds on a new striker.
If there’s no sale, they plan to collect a ‘realistic sum’ via a purchase option, without the report mentioning their demand.
