AC Milan are looking for a striker ahead of January, and it seems as though Niclas Füllkrug does not have unanimous approval.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, regardless of what happens with Santiago Gimenez and his potential ankle surgery, logic dictates that a new centre-forward must arrive in the winter. However, Milan do not have a huge available budget.
This is why, in the last few hours, the candidacy of Fullkrug has resurfaced. The 32-year-old will leave West Ham, can be secured practically immediately and at a very low cost, given that the London club are open to a dry loan.
Furthermore, he’s an old-fashioned target man who is strong in the air and with a great presence in the penalty area, unlike anything else in the squad currently. One drawback, however, is not exactly insignificant: since he arrived in England in the summer of 2024, the German has played just 29 games, scoring three goals.
In between, three significant injuries. September 2024: Achilles tendon inflammation and 16 missed games. January 2025: thigh problem and another twelve games missed. Finally, October 2025: torn muscle and a month and a half out.
The result? Füllkrug ‘hasn’t scored since April 5th’. So, regardless of feasibility, doubts as to whether he can actually help Milan in the coming months are more than legitimate.
Alternative ideas
The aforementioned reasons are why Fullkrug is not the number one target, contrary to other reports. Despite being different profile, in recent weeks there have been contacts with the entourage of Joshua Zirkzee, a long-time target for Milan.
The Dutchman wants to leave Manchester United and would gladly return to Italy, where he exploded with success at Bologna. The Red Devils, however, would like to include an obligation to buy of around €35 m to protect themselves before sanctioning a loan.
Above all, they would only let him leave at the end of January. Finally, other clubs are also interested in Zirkzee, with Roma leading the way. In short, it’s not a simple deal, even if the Rossoneri remain vigilant and hope for a breakthrough in the coming weeks.
Mateo Pellegrino remains in the background, but Parma are reluctant to sell him in January unless they receive a particularly good offer. Milan are unlikely to make one. A move for Mauro Icardi is also unlikely, though in the mercato it is a case of ‘never say never’.
Roma will likely outbid us for Zirkzee i think Gasperoni sees him as his long term 2nd/link striker (a bit like how he used CDK at Atalanta)
If we’re stuck with Fullkrug that’s ok on loan, just to get a no.9 in. But only on loan (until say Vlahovic arrives in summer)
Duvan Zapata.
Not cheap and can’t stay fit.
He is 34 with a year and a half left on his contract. They can sign him for less than 5 mil and I doubt he makes a high salary playing for Torino.
When it comes to injuries, he isn’t coming in to carry the attack or have a heavy workload that he has had throughout his career.
Its January transfer market. Its slim pickings
“They can sign him for less than 5 mil”
I think not.
“Füllkrug hasn’t scored since April 5th”
That’s exactly why we’re going for him
😂
I really don’t get how management make finding a striker so complicated. “Hasn’t scored since April” should immediately put him in the rejection pile but no – he shoots to the top…
Money and availability. They already blew €70 million so they can’t make any more expensive mistakes.
Icardi?
Zirkzee > anyone mentioned so far… on a loan of course.
Hasn’t scored in ages and is injury prone? Sign him up immediately 😅that’s our guy right there
At the end we will just stuck with those two liabilities..perhaps new year will change their fortune..
Thats Furlani’ style
Okay hear me out. There’s a reason players like Chuc don’t make it in Serie A, but light up in Premier League (more space behind the defense). Just like there’s a reason why players like Füllkrug don’t make it in the Prem, but can make it in Serie A (he has zero talent, but he’s a street fighter in th box, which is exactly what we need). This is a low risk investment to at least give Allegri exact the type of striker he wants. And if it doesn’t work out, we’ll see in the summer. I can actually see this guy coming on in the 70th minute and give central defenders an awful time.
He doesn’t even necessarily need to score. Just be a huge distraction and pain in the ass to give Puli and Rafa space to do their thing. Also, his holdup play is actually quite ok
You are making too much sense for the box score watchers who just go straight Transfermarkt to check how many goals have a player scored.
The Sassuolo game is a perfect example of what you are talking about. Pinamonti was responsible for both Sassuolo goals playing with his back to the goal, facing his own goalkeeper instead of Maignan. Thats what Milan needs more than just a finisher like Icardi who provides nothing if he isn’t scoring.
Thank you. Finally someone who actually watches the games and understands the league instead of basing opinions on FIFA career mode. Definitely not saying Füllkrug is our Messiah, but I don’t clearly see a better alternative in the January window, especially in terms of costs (and I actually do understand the management and Allegri rather place their trust in talented Gimenez as the long term striker, instead of paying 30M for Pellegrino.)
The real fault was buying Nkunku for 38M, but we can’t keep complaining. All in all: Füllkrug is a low-risk investment who fits the profile and is eager to prove himself. Let’s go for it.
Yep.
We’re collecting the Infinity stones of strikers that can’t score
We need a striker who can score often and we think to take Fullkrug who score last time in april ?
Okkkkkk….