West Ham United head coach Julen Lopetegui signed Niclas Fullkrug from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
Julen Lopetegui bringing Niclas Fullkrug to West Ham for around £25 million was a controversial move at the time, with many Hammers fans preferring the idea of signing Jhon Duran.
I do feel like Julen Lopetegui needs to find a way to give Niclas Fullkrug the best possible chance to succeed with West Ham.
Fullkrug was one of nine new arrivals at the London Stadium in the summer transfer window, and he has made a slower start than most of them.
He is a proper striker though, and once he’s fully up to speed, I’m sure he will succeed with West Ham.
But what was the main reason behind him joining us in the first place?
Niclas Fullkrug makes honest admission about West Ham transfer
The Hammers hitman may well have to wait a little while longer before he’s given his first Premier League start for the club due to his injury.
Whilst out in Germany, Fullkrug has been speaking to the local press about his big summer transfer.
Fullkrug spoke exclusively to German media outlet Sport Bild about his move from Dortmund to West Ham.
The German lifted the lid on who played the deciding role in his move to the London Stadium.
Fullkrug said, “I’ve had a good relationship with Tim Steidten (Technical Director of West Ham) since our time together at Werder.”
“He played a big part. In the end, the decisive factor was the discussions with coach Julen Lopetegui. I had a good feeling straight away. He explained to me where he saw me on the pitch, how I could help the team with my strengths. He immediately gave me the impression that he really wanted me and that I was needed.”
I received this appreciation because I performed particularly well in the Champions League and in the national team – including at the home European Championships.”
Now, due to the relationship that Fullkrug shared with Steidten at Werder Bremen, many West Ham fans believed that the Hammers director of football was a decisive factor behind the German’s move to the London Stadium.
And whilst Steidten undoubtedly played a part in the 31-year-old swapping Dortmund for East London, it was clearly Lopetegui who got the deal over the line.
Jury still out on Fullkrug at West Ham
The Germany international hasn’t hit the ground running at the London Stadium, and the Achilles injury that he’s just sustained certainly won’t help matters.
However, we must be patient with him, and allow him time to adjust to life in London and Lopetegui’s tactics.
It is never easy for strikers after moving to a new league, with the pressure really on to start well.
Lopetegui’s decision to bring Niclas Fullkrug to West Ham for around £25 million may well end up being a masterstroke or a real shocker, we just don’t know yet.
One thing’s for sure, Lopetegui needs to set up his team with his wingers playing more narrow, if he’s to get the best out of Niclas Fullkrug at West Ham.
Only time will tell as to whether the Hammers head coach made the correct decision by bringing him to the London Stadium.
