Fullkrug's Milan Flop: Rossoneri Set to Boot Him Back Despite €5m Snip

Ever signed a player on loan thinking he'd be the saviour, only for it to feel like bringing home a stray cat that scratches the furniture? That's AC Milan's tale with Niclas Fullkrug right now. The burly German arrived in January as an emergency fix for their creaking forward line, but it's safe to say he's not winning over the San Siro faithful.

A Loan Deal Doomed from the Off

Milan snapped up Fullkrug on loan from West Ham when injuries left their attack looking thinner than a defender's wallet after transfer deadline day. The deal came with a cheeky €5 million buy option – peanuts for a lad still under contract at West Ham until 2028. It screamed 'bargain basement' from the start, but as transfer guru Matteo Moretto reports via CalcioMercato (original scoop by Sam Wilson at Football Italia), the Rossoneri always saw it as a straight rental unless he turned into prime Haaland.

That exceptional spark? Nowhere to be seen. A nagging foot injury turned what should have been a rampage into a plod, and he's mustered just one goal in 14 appearances, totalling a measly 429 minutes. That's barely enough time to perfect your post-match pie technique, let alone fire up a title charge.

One Goal Wonders and Penalty Howlers

Remember that opener against Lecce at the San Siro? Fullkrug celebrated like he'd just won the Ballon d'Or, slotting home Milan's first in a rare moment of joy. But the shine faded fast. Fast forward to Pisa, and there he was, dejected after fluffing a penalty – the kind of miss that has keepers smirking into their gloves.

It's not all on him; Milan's forward woes are a squad-wide headache. Still, senior suits at Casa Milan aren't swayed. Those stats scream 'project player' more than 'statement signing'. With the buyout so low it's practically giveaway territory, you'd think they'd bite. Nope. They're already on the hunt for a similar physical beast – tall, strong, no-nonsense – to plug the gap come summer.

Back to Blighty or a German Homecoming?

So, what's next for our underachieving striker? A sheepish return to West Ham tops the bill, where he might slot back into the Hammers' mix or warm the bench. But don't rule out a sentimental jaunt back to Germany. If his old mates at Schalke pip promotion to the Bundesliga, whispers suggest he'd fancy another crack there.

For Milan, it's a pragmatic punt. Why commit when the market's buzzing with options? Their scouting team's beavering away, eyeing profiles that match Fullkrug's mould but hopefully with sharper finishing. Imagine the ribbing he'll get from mates: '€5m escape clause and they still didn't want ya!'

This stint will go down as one of those 'what if' loans – hampered by injury, low on minutes, big on expectations. Milan's attack needs a proper overhaul, not a half-term holiday hire. As the season winds down, Fullkrug's Serie A adventure feels like a pub league cameo: fun in theory, forgettable in practice.

Fancy a pint on it? Milan fans might need one after this.