According to The Pitch Prospect, West Ham and AC Milan have reached an agreement in principle for the loan of Niclas Fullkrug.
The German striker is set to leave east London just weeks after his agent said his move from Borussia Dortmund in 2024 had not worked out.
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The Pitch Prospect reported last month that West Ham were willing to listen to offers for Fullkrug, who has only played nine games this season.
He is now on course to join Milan in Serie A in a deal that includes an option to buy which is said to be worth over £10 million.
The move will allow West Ham to find a new striker in the January transfer window to avoid relegation to the Premier League.
Goals for West Ham striker
The options include Jorgen Strand Larsen, who is the joint top scorer for the struggling Wolves with three goals.
Joshua Zirkzee is another potential name for West Ham, having only started three times for Manchester United this season.
However, the Hammers do not believe United will loan the Dutchman to a Premier League club if they sanction a move away.
West Ham have several options for the striker role, including Promise David from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Josh Sargent from Norwich City.
Chris Wood was also discussed but no approach was made for the Nottingham Forest man.
The Pitch Prospect’s Perry Groves has warned that West Ham need another four or five new players ready to play in the first team to stay in the Premier League.
“From West Ham’s perspective, the owners have a huge decision to make because they obviously want West Ham in the Premier League,” Groves said on GameDay Live.
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“But I think they’ve just done enough in the past. They’re just happy that they survived.”
“So I think they’re facing this big dilemma now because West Ham need four or five players to come straight into the team in the January transfer window.”
“And they need two central defenders. Their central defenders are nowhere near good enough.”
Danger of relegation for Hammers
Nuno Espirito Santo has won just two of his 12 games as West Ham manager since his appointment in September.
They lost 3-0 to title contenders Manchester City on Saturday and are winless in their last six games.
West Ham are 18th in the Premier League, five points behind Nottingham Forest, who are in 17th.
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However, should Forest win against Fulham live on The Pitch Prospect on Monday evening, they will be six points behind the top flight.
A London derby with Fulham awaits them on December 27th before they end the year with a visit to Brighton three days later.
West Ham are in danger of falling into a relegation battle in the second half of the season.
They were relegated from the top flight for the last time in 2011, but only spent one season in the Championship.