By his own admission, the sporting director had little plans to cash in on a player who now seems destined to end the week as a West Ham United player.
While Julen Lopetegui’s side close in on deals for Leeds United talisman Crysencio Summerville and World Cup winner Guido Rodriguez – as reported by HITC – The Hammers have also made a breakthrough in their pursuit of a new centre-forward.
While spending £25 million on a 31-year-old after an impressive European Championships does feel very West Ham – and not necessarily in a good way – you’d be a brave man to bet against Niclas Fullkrug failing to end the club’s so-called striker curse.
Possessing not only the ability but also the rock-solid mentality to thrive where Gianluca Scamacca and co failed, Fullkrug brings with him a fantastic record for both club and country.
Scorer of 13 goals in just 21 Germany appearances, the Borussia Dortmund targetman – dubbed ‘one of the best in Europe’ in the air – also won the Bundesliga’s Golden Boot at a middling Werder Bremen outfit in 2023.
West Ham United to sign Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug
Dortmund confirmed on Saturday morning, via their official X account, that Fullkrug had been allowed to leave their training camp for further talks with the London Stadium outfit.
Sporting director Sebastian Kehl, meanwhile, admits that the Champions League finalists initially had little appetite to cash in on the late-blooming poacher.
But after Fullkrug made it clear that he was keen to take on a fresh challenge in the Premier League, Dortmund were in no mood to stand in his way.
“The events of the last few days have been unfolding rapidly. It was not our intention to bring the Niclas Füllkrug issue up again like this,” Kehl tells Sport1. “But it has developed very quickly in the last two days. It was not our plan to let Niclas Füllkrug go at this point.
“There are things that have to be decided and, if the player then expresses a wish, then you respect it to a certain extent. Not an easy decision (for the club or for Fullkrug).”
Kehl insists that nothing is completed just yet, even if HITC understands Fullkrug has already agreed a three-year deal with the claret-and-blue outfit.
But the director does admit that discussions are ongoing.
Germany ace leaves training camp for further talks
“The matter has not yet been decided. The fact is that we have released him (from the training camp),” adds the former Germany midfielder. “He has left for talks.
“We are prepared for such scenarios. It is not as if we have not already drawn up a plan in the last two days on how to deal with such a possible departure.”
Dortmund may have plans in place of how to cope without Fullkrug but there is no getting away from the fact that his sudden departure leaves BVB in the lurch.
Serhou Guirassy, the summer signing from Stuttgart, will miss the start of the season through injury. Youssoufa Moukouko also looks likely to depart, leaving former Hammer Sebastian Haller as potentially the only fit striker at the service of new head coach Nuri Sahin.
Also on Saturday, Dortmund confirmed the signing of Yan Couto from Manchester City in a potential £23 million deal.
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