However much West Ham dress it up as a ‘plan’ for Niclas Fullkrug‘s return to action, the early injury of their ‘Antonio upgrade’ is both intensely embarrassing and costly. We are told “The situation isn’t great and has led to a ‘consultation’ with West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui and a new plan has been drawn up. Füllkrug will now be ‘slowly introduced’ to the team and a ‘maximum load’ over 90 minutes.” (C and H yesterday)
Which means ‘ wrap him in cotton wool and bring him back real slow’.
Hardly confidence-inspiring and when he does appear, will make him a target for any decent centre-half who will want to test out his opponent’s fitness in the time honoured tradition.
It also means West Ham are in a changing and challenging position regarding a January acquisition. Having sent very clear messages in August that Fullkrug was the next best thing for West Ham, suddenly we hear “never say never” from the club over the possibility of a new acquisition in January. Funds from Nayef Aguerd’s sale ( they love him on loan at Real Sociedad ) could easily pave the way for a new striker: Antonio or Ings leaving will pay the wages.
Rumours now linking The Hammers with another forward circulate regularly. Sorloth? too slow. Failed at ‘Palace. A host of others have been linked: Hugo Duro from Valencia, Omar Marmoush from the Bundesliga- former Newcastle striker – Ayose Perez, too old at 31.
The irony of Deniz Undav – a Brighton ‘failure’ at just 28 sold to Stuttgart this summer and now replacing Fullkrug in the national side -and scoring twice on Friday – is not lost. Similar price to Fullkrug, €26 million – but younger legs and fewer injury issues over time. We all know that West Ham need a twenty-something striker. This is becoming a ‘non-negotiable’ rather than a ‘possible’, however much the club play it down: The urgent need to bring in a younger, faster option is becoming crystal clear.