On Thursday, we covered claims from Germany which stated Borussia Dortmund have been ‘plunged into a dilemma’ after receiving a proposal from West Ham United for Niclas Füllkrug.
The striker starred in his debut season for the Bundesliga side, managing 15 goals and 10 assists from 43 games. He’ll face competition from summer signing Serhou Guirassy for a place in the starting lineup next season.
Sky Deutschland journalist Patrick Berger says this is one of the reasons the 31-year-old is ‘seriously thinking’ about leaving BVB for West Ham.
The Hammers have offered him a deal until 2027, with an option for another year, while his contract at the German club lasts until 2026.
Füllkrug wants to feature regularly in order to represent Germany at the 2026 World Cup. The journalist claims he has held talks with the national team’s coaching staff over the possibility of moving to the London club.
He could be the first-choice striker under Julen Lopetegui at West Ham, which wouldn’t be the case at Dortmund after Guirassy’s arrival. According to Berger, the player was initially sceptical but ‘is now open’ to joining West Ham.
Another Sky journalist, Florian Plettenberg, says West Ham have held ‘new talks’ with BVB on Thursday evening. There’s a gap between the clubs as Dortmund want €30m, while West Ham aren’t willing to go beyond €25m ‘all-in’.
There’s ‘poker ongoing’ between the two clubs for Füllkrug and it’s now up to Dortmund to decide.
West Ham are looking at other options and Aston Villa’s Jhon Durán is the most concrete one.
Plettenberg says the Hammers have a verbal agreement with Durán, and it ‘won’t be an issue’ to agree a deal with Aston Villa.
