The mercurial ex-West Ham striker Julen Lopetegui should re-sign in January to save his job
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West Ham United fans have been waiting forever for the return of Niclas Füllkrug, as the team desperately needs a real striker to lead the line in attack.
The signing of the German striker from Borussia Dortmund brought joy to fans who had been yearning for a quality centre-forward for what has felt like an eternity. He was coming off a season where he led the line for a UEFA Champions League finalist and had scored twice for Germany at Euro 2024. Expectations were high as he arrived at the Olympic Stadium.
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Hide AdUnfortunately, the £27 million spent on Füllkrug's transfer to England is turning out to be poor business. He has not featured for the Hammers since sustaining a calf injury on international duty with Germany in September. His absence was initially expected to be brief, but two months on, he is still yet to return. There has been no official communication from the club about his recovery timeline.
On October 5, 2024, while fans were celebrating West Ham's win over Ipswich Town, Füllkrug added to the excitement with a post on social media: "Big win at home, can’t wait to be back." However, his recovery suffered a setback when the club’s medical team discovered an issue with his Achilles tendon.
There is no indication that the 32-year-old striker will be available after the international break. Even when he does return, getting match fit and staying fit for the demanding part of the season will be a major concern. With their ambitious goals, the Hammers cannot continue relying on Michail Antonio and right winger Jarrod Bowen to fill in as makeshift center forwards. They will need to sign a striker in January.
Having spent £27million on Füllkrug, it’s understandable that the club might hesitate to give up on him now, in order to avoid a repeat of the Gianluca Scamacca situation. This makes the choice of a striker in January a temporary fix. On the transfer market, the best short-term solution for West Ham could be their former player, Marko Arnautović.
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Hide AdThe Austrian forward has fallen down the pecking order at Internazionale with the arrival of Mehdi Taremi from FC Porto. No longer a go-to super-sub for Simone Inzaghi, Arnautović is now a realistic target for a return to West Ham. Italian media reports suggest Inter Milan are willing to let him leave for free, provided a club is willing to cover his wage bill.
Julen Lopetegui would likely relish the opportunity to work with Arnautović, who fits the brand of football Lopetegui wants to implement at the Olympic Stadium. Arnautović is already familiar with the Premier League and West Ham's culture, so adapting to a second stint at the club would not be an issue.
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