Wild rumor
DFB striker Füllkrug about to return to Germany?
March 30, 2026 – 1:21 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Niclas Füllkrug is currently playing on loan for AC Milan. This could change again in the summer – a major club from Germany is said to be thinking about signing the attacker.
That would be a spectacular transfer: A wild rumor links national player Niclas Füllkrug with a return home.
As the Italian portal “Calciomercato” reports, FC Schalke 04 is said to be looking into signing the DFB striker. Accordingly, the personnel would become relevant, especially in the event of the “Royal Blues” returning to the Bundesliga.
Füllkrug is currently on loan from West Ham United to AC Milan in the Italian Serie A and wants to gain match practice there in order to recommend himself for a place in national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s World Cup squad. Füllkrug was not nominated for the two international matches against Switzerland last Friday and Ghana on Monday evening (from 8:45 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online).
What is certain is that Füllkrug will be available in the summer. AC Milan are unlikely to take up the purchase option agreed with West Ham, which is reportedly between five and ten million euros. The center forward apparently no longer plays a role for the English team either. This could bring a return to the Bundesliga into focus.
However, there are still significant hurdles for a Füllkrug transfer to Gelsenkirchen: First, current striker Edin Džeko would have to end his career. The Bosnian is 40 years old, but still in top form and is playing a significantly better season than the younger and injury-prone filling pitcher. Only then would a place in S04’s attack become available. In addition, the salary of the striker for Schalke would also have to be financed. At West Ham, Füllkrug is estimated to earn between four and five million euros net.
