Change of coach before completion
©IMAGO
“He immediately gave me the impression that he really wanted me and that I was needed,” said Niclas Füllkrug after his BVB farewell about the crucial exchange with coach Julen Lopetegui. “After this conversation it was clear to me: I want to go to West Ham.” The Spaniard is about to leave there after six months. In the Premier League, the Hammers are in 14th place after just six wins from 20 games. How the designated successor Graham Potter plans with Füllkrug remains to be seen. The Lopetegui exit could give him pause.
An option could arise in Serie A. Like transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio Reportedly, Füllkrug is on the Juventus list. The Bianconeri are looking for a new striker as there is no alternative to top scorer Dušan Vlahović (24). The only other regular center forward in the squad is Arkadiusz Milik (30), who has not yet played a game this season due to injury.
“Juventus needs a striker who can be loaned out without having to buy. If a good offer comes in for Vlahović, there would even have to be two,” says Jatin Dietl, Area Manager Italy at Transfermarkt, assessing the situation in Turin. In addition to Füllkrug, Randal Kolo Muani (26), who wants to leave PSG and is being traded to numerous clubs, and Joshua Zirkzee (23) from Man United are also on the Juventus list. Those would probably be the desired players, Dietl continued, but he also added: “In the end, Juventus will take what they can get.”
For Füllkrug, the first six months in England after the 27 million euro move did not go as hoped. Due to long-term Achilles tendon problems, the DFB striker was only on the pitch for 442 minutes in ten appearances for West Ham, scoring two goals – but at least as a starting eleven. If Lopetegui’s successor doesn’t rely on him, a loan could be an option so that Füllkrug can find his way back to his old form.
Nagelsmann observes filling jug situation at West Ham
This would also be important for his status in the DFB team. National coach Julian Nagelsmann is closely monitoring the fan favorite’s situation. “Fülle hasn’t played for a long time. “It’s basically part of the core,” Nagelsmann said recently. But as a coach, he always has to re-evaluate how all players can find their way back to their old strength after injuries. Gladbach’s Tim Kleindienst (29) recommended himself from Nagelsmann’s shadow squad for further assignments in Füllkrug’s absence.