Niclas Füllkrug took matters into his own hands this summer to seal his departure from West Ham United and return to Werder Bremen.
SportBILD report on the measures that the 33-year-old went to this summer to ensure he could sign for his former club.
The newspaper explains that the Bundesliga club managed to convince the goalscorer to join them this summer, with money only playing a minor role in the matter.
Füllkrug effort key
They detail how, on August 12th, the German club held a secret meeting with the Niclas Füllkrug about a potential return.
Füllkrug had the day off from West Ham that day. He used it to visit his hometown. At that point, a potential move to Venezia FC in Italy was off the table.
That was due to West Ham’s demands for €5m, a sum the Italians considered too high. That failed deal presented a major opportunity for Werder. Füllkrug had consistently told West Ham that he would be happy to return to his former club. He’d been in contact with the Bundesliga club since May.
So, that afternoon in Hanover, he held talks with Bremen officials. No agent was present. The Germans explained their plans for the striker. He was to assume the role of leader – on the pitch and in the dressing room – and mentor young players.
Wage concessions
They were also willing to make financial concessions on wages. Füllkrug now earns around €2m a year after earning €5m a year with the Hammers in the Premier League.
But the real kicker was the post-career offering. Füllkrug will now complete trainee programme at Werder to determined whether he later works as a coach or in management. He can also envision a future role as a TV pundit.
Once that meeting was over, Werder prepared the paperwork to push the deal forwards. Füllkrug then travelled back to West Ham and discussed it with them – again without an agent present.
They ultimately agreed to a loan deal until 2027 with no loan fee or option to buy. The Hammers were simply happy to get the striker off their wage bill. The deal ultimately suited everyone, but it took Füllkrug’s initiative to make it happen.
