AC Milan have thrown Niclas Füllkrug a career lifeline, snapping up the out of favour West Ham striker on a loan deal until June.
The 32 year old German marksman jets into Serie A with one clear mission: to salvage his faltering club form and claw his way back into Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
It’s a swift and pragmatic bit of business by the Rossoneri, who’ve been left short up front after a nasty injury to first choice hitman Santiago Giménez. The loan includes an option to buy set at around €13 million, which could turn mandatory if certain performance targets is met.
Füllkrug’s time in East London has been nothing short of a disaster. The Hammers forked out €27 million for him just 18 months ago, but he’s managed a paltry three Premier League goals since. This season, he’s been mostly rooted to the bench, his confidence looking shot.
“He’s a player with experience and a specific profile we need right now,” was the brief word from a Milan insider. For Füllkrug, the message is clear: perform, or your top level days are numbered.
His arrival is a classic low risk, potential high reward punt by Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri. With Giroud now 37 and Giménez sidelined, there’s a glaring hole through the middle. Füllkrug won’t be expected to be a 20 goal hero, but he needs to provide a physical focal point and, crucially, start finding the net again.
The broader picture is all about Germany. Nagelsmann will be finalising his World Cup plans in the spring, and a striker of Füllkrug’s traditional mould could be a useful weapon. But he needs to be playing, and scoring. This Milan move is quite literally his last shot.
All eyes will be on his debut, likely to come in the Coppa Italia next week. If he hits the ground running, it could be a masterstroke. If he doesn’t, it’ll be a sad footnote for a player whose career has stalled at the worst possible time. The pressure is well and truly on.
