Julian Nagelsmann, the Germany coach, urged Niclas Fullkrug to leave Borussia Dortmund, but the Bundesliga team is hesitant to sell since West Ham isn’t willing to pay the asking price.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann urged Niclas Fullkrug to leave Borussia Dortmund, but the Bundesliga team is hesitant to sell since West Ham isn’t willing to pay the asking price.

The 31-year-old attacker Fullkrug now appears receptive to the prospect of joining the Premier League team, according to Sky Germany, which reports that the Hammers have joined the signing race. A three-year contract with a four-year option has been put forth by West Ham. Fullkrug could be able to continue his career at West Ham rather than Dortmund, where his current deal expires in 2026, thanks to this. His compensation at West Ham is similar to what he made at Dortmund, with an annual gross income of about €2.5 million (£2.1 million/$2.7 million).

Fullkrug reportedly hesitated at first to accept West Ham’s offer because doing so would have meant forfeiting his chance to play in the Champions League. But he’s been pushed to reconsider by the pull of playing in the Premier League, the long-term deal, and the prospect of a starting position. The striker had hoped to join AC Milan, but the Italian team pulled out of the negotiations because they could not afford to pay for a permanent transfer. West Ham is now the front-runner to sign him as a result of this development.

According to the Sky story, Fullkrug had also made contact with Julian Nagelsmann, Sandro Wagner, and Benjamin Gluck, the coaches of Germany. They allegedly counseled him to relocate to London, stressing the value of consistent playing time as he gets ready for the 2026 World Cup.

Dortmund wants to rely on two elite strikers, Serhou Guirassy and Füllkrug, thus they are hesitant to let go of Füllkrug. They have placed a price tag on the player of €30 million (£25 million/$33 million), though, and they plan to let him go should a buyer offer that sum.

West Ham is thought to have already made a bid that is worth about €25 million (£21 million/$27 million), plus bonuses. Although this offer is less than what Dortmund is asking for, it forces BVB executives Lars Ricken and Sebastian Kehl to consider it. West Ham may pull out and concentrate on acquiring Aston Villa’s 20-year-old forward Jhon Duran if Dortmund insists on the €30 million.

As West Ham gets ready to hold more negotiations with Dortmund, a decision about Fullkrug’s future might be made as soon as Thursday night. Fullkrug, spurred on by Nagelsmann and lured by a big deal, has to balance the advantages of playing in the Premier League against the costs of having to give up Dortmund and the Champions League. We still don’t know where Fullkrug will play next season since talks are ongoing.