West Ham may target PAOK striker Stefanos Tzimas in the January transfer window as Niclas Fullkrug is reportedly “very upset” with his situation at the London Stadium, according to Christian Falk.
The BILD journalist, writing in The Daily Briefing on Friday (20 December), revealed that Tzimas, 18, has a £14.9 million (€18m) release clause in his contract with Greek side PAOK.
While Nurnberg, where the Greece Under-21 international is currently on loan, cannot afford the fee, West Ham are interested in the young forward.
This interest stems from Fullkrug, 31, expressing dissatisfaction since joining from Borussia Dortmund during the summer.
Falk also noted that Juventus could pursue Fullkrug in the winter transfer window, potentially paving the way for West Ham to secure Tzimas.
“I heard West Ham is also interested in Stefanos Tzimas, which makes sense given that Niclas Füllkrug is very upset with his situation over in London,” said the German journalist.
“There may be an opportunity for him to sign for Juventus in the winter. This could be a good move – Tzimas to West Ham and Füllkrug to Juventus. It’s not concrete at the moment, but it’s an idea.”
Niclas Fullkrug’s stint at the London Stadium hasn’t gone as expected.
The 31-year-old joined West Ham in the summer after an impressive season with Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 16 goals across all competitions and played a key role in their run to the Champions League final.
Unfortunately, the Germany international has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League. A serious ankle injury sidelined him for September, October, and November, but he made a comeback with a goal against Leicester.
Since then, however, his opportunities have been limited. He was left on the bench in the win over Wolves and managed only 34 minutes as a substitute against Bournemouth.
While it might seem rash to offload him so soon, Stefanos Tzimas, currently excelling on loan at Nurnberg, appears to be a more promising long-term option for West Ham due to his age and potential.
