AC Milan Passes on Füllkrug Buyout, Begins Search for New Striker
AC Milan is reportedly set to allow Niclas Füllkrug to return to West Ham at the end of the season, opting against activating his surprisingly low €5 million buyout clause. Despite the modest fee, the Rossoneri are not convinced by the German striker's performance during his loan spell and have already begun scouting for a replacement.
Füllkrug arrived at Milan in January as an emergency signing to bolster a depleted attack. However, his tenure has been largely underwhelming, with a foot injury further hindering his progress. Across 14 appearances, totaling just 429 minutes, he managed only a single goal, which has evidently failed to impress the club's senior management.
According to transfer journalist Matteo Moretto, Milan always viewed the deal primarily as a loan, with the purchase option intended only if Füllkrug delivered an exceptional contribution. That expected impact never materialized. Even with his contract at West Ham reportedly running until June 2028, making the €5 million clause seem particularly low, Milan is firm in its decision not to make the move permanent.
The Rossoneri's scouting network has already been tasked with identifying a new striker possessing similar physical attributes ahead of the summer transfer window. For Füllkrug, a return to London seems the most probable immediate outcome, although a potential move back to Germany, especially if his former club Schalke achieves Bundesliga promotion, remains a long-term possibility. His brief time in Serie A will ultimately be remembered as a period where he struggled to truly find his footing.
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