After the Niclas Fullkrug injury, West Ham United looked into signing a proven centre-forward it seems.
West Ham hitman Niclas Fullkrug has suffered a huge injury blow a couple of days ago, whilst away on international duty with Germany.
Ahead of Germany’s clash with Holland, the 31-year-old had to abandon the final training session in Amsterdam on Monday after just 15 minutes, due to problems with his Achilles tendon and calf.
The injury really was terrible timing for Fullkrug and Lopetegui, after the Spaniard had just been hand-fed the solution to the German’s problems, when he a scored for his country during a 5-0 win over Hungary.
Lopetegui’s decision to bring Niclas Fullkrug to West Ham for around £25 million may well end up being a real shocker.
However, in the here and now, the Hammers head coach must decide how to approach games without the 31-year-old striker.
And it seems like he had one particular plan in mind…
West Ham eyed striker swoop after Niclas Fullkrug injury
Fullkrug could be kept out of action for a few weeks, or possibly even months.
That’s obviously terrible news for him and West Ham.
And Memphis Depay was someone who the Hammers apparently targeted to provide short-term cover for the Germany international.
So it seems like Lopetegui contemplated bringing the Dutchman to the London Stadium on a free transfer.
Before he joined Brazilian side Corinthians, West Ham looked into signing him according to a report from Give Me Sport.
Throughout his career, Depay has bagged 172 club goals, and 46 for the Netherlands.
Scoring 218 goals in all competitions before your 31st birthday is no mean feat.
The Dutch ace is an enigmatic, precocious talent and on his day he is unplayable.
Depay is incredibly strong as well and would be ideally suited to leading the line on his own for the Hammers, in the absence of Fullkrug.
The Barcelona attacker has been described as a player with ‘unreal skill’ by The Metro.
Sure, he has displayed some attitude problems in the past but a fresh start at the London Stadium might have been exactly what he needed to help him rediscover his best form.
West Ham missed a trick with Depay
It’s all a moot point now though, with Depay having been officially confirmed as a Corinthians player.
I feel like we missed a trick here.
Surely signing the 30-year-old for absolutely nothing would have been a no-brainer for the Hammers.
The former Manchester United and Barcelona man would have been able to do a solid job for us for the next couple of years, and signing him on a free transfer would’ve meant that the transfer wasn’t a risk.
Who knows though, perhaps Memphis Depay demanded a huge salary, or maybe Lopetegui believes in Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen to fill in for Fullkrug.
Only time will tell as to whether or not the Hammers made the the right decision by not signing Depay on a free transfer to provide cover for Niclas Fullkrug after the German picked up an Achilles injury.
