It now seems like Milan are inching closer towards signing West Ham’s Niclas Fullkrug in January. The deal – if suggestions from the press are to be believed, is in the final stages and the player is quite keen.
It is likely the 32-year-old will join Chelsea on a loan deal, with Milan expected to have either an option or obligation to buy.
On paper, this is fixing a problem for Milan. Santiago Gimenez is out injured and is set to have ankle surgery soon. Christopher Nkunku has failed to impress and the
Rossoneri obviously need a proven number nine. While Fullkrug would come in and potentially start, he is a real shot in the dark for Max Allegri’s side.
Fullkrug has obvious fitness problems
The German’s time at West Ham has been littered with injuries and all of them have mainly been muscle problems. Most recently, he picked up a muscle bundle injury that kept him out of action for about a month.
Issues like that usually suggest that the player is probably likely to face similar problems in the future. Considering how he didn’t really have fitness issues at Borussia Dortmund, this trend can now get worse for the veteran.
Does he guarantee goals? What about suitability?
The striker’s recent track records suggests that he doesn’t really assure you goals. Granted, he had a pretty good record at Dortmund, that hasn’t been the same at West Ham. He has scored only three times for the London club in a year and a half.
Besides that, there are obvious question marks to be raised about his suitability to Allegri’s setup and this was already questioned, when Fullkrug was initially offered to Milan and Roma. The Rossoneri didn’t proceed with a deal back then due to issues around his age and profile.
That is obvious because the Germany international is neither explosive nor mobile like the strikers one would associate with Allegri. He has a delightful finish in him but there has been on obvious physical decline in him and the Italian always wants workhorse centre-forwards that bring others to play.
Granted, the move could yet work out. Stranger things have happened in the game and at Milan. But considering where we are right now, it is a massive risk. It can pay off but if it doesn’t, it could Milan a lot.
