January is shaping up to be a defining month for West Ham.
After a dismal start to the campaign, Nuno Espírito Santo knows major surgery is required.
New arrivals will be crucial, but so too will departures, with the club needing to clear space on the wage bill and generate funds by moving on underperforming players.
One of the most talked-about potential exits has been Niclas Füllkrug.
The German striker has struggled badly since arriving in east London, and his mooted move to AC Milan appeared to be gathering pace.
However, fresh comments have now cast real doubt over whether that transfer will actually happen.
Füllkrug Exit in Doubt
Reports earlier this week suggested Füllkrug was closing in on a January switch to Milan, with talks centred around a loan deal that included an option to buy.
But those claims have been called into question following remarks from agent Massimo Brambati, who lifted the lid on a recent conversation with Rossoneri boss Max Allegri.
Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, Brambati revealed: “I had dinner with Allegri, and he didn’t seem very convinced, not so much because of the player’s value but because of his physical problems.”
He went on to explain the concern from Milan’s perspective: “Bringing in a player who might not always be available is a problem. This player’s history says so.”
Brambati also suggested Allegri would prefer a different type of striker altogether, adding: “I heard that Torino’s Zapata was very welcome, and his contract expires in June 2026.”
Those doubts are hardly surprising. Since his move from Borussia Dortmund in 2024, the 32-year-old has been plagued by injuries and has struggled to build any rhythm or consistency at West Ham.
While Füllkrug has been widely tipped to leave in January, these comments show the situation is far from straightforward.
Allegri’s hesitation could yet derail the deal, underlining a familiar transfer-window truth — nothing is agreed until it is signed, sealed and announced.
