AC Milan and Niclas Füllkrug are getting closer and closer. An agreement between the Rossoneri and West Ham has now been reached, as has the deal with the player, who is ready to undergo his medical examinations as soon as possible. From Casa Milan, negotiations have led, according to reports, to securing the German striker on a loan deal with an option to buy. The question that naturally follows is clear: can Füllkrug be the answer to Milan’s doubts in attack?
Zero goals
Milan’s striker problem is obvious and it is probably not an issue limited to this season alone. For some time now, the Rossoneri club managers have been searching for a true number 9. In recent years, the only centre-forward worthy of that name has been Olivier Giroud. This season, the attacking burden rested on the shoulders of Santiago Gimenez and Christopher Nkunku. By Christmas, the numbers are alarming: zero league goals between the two. A run of form that is hard to swallow and that has pushed the club to look for a powerful centre-forward for Massimiliano Allegri. The choice has fallen on Niclas Füllkrug, the 1993-born German who is going through a difficult spell at West Ham: few minutes, even fewer goals, and several physical issues.
Is he the answer?
So the question arises again: can Füllkrug be the solution to Milan’s attacking troubles? Based on this season’s numbers and the player’s current condition, the instinctive answer would be no. Paradoxically, Milan’s move is a gamble. However, there are aspects that could prove decisive if everything falls into place. The first is that, on paper, Niclas Füllkrug has the ideal characteristics for Allegri’s football: a physical centre-forward who is comfortable operating inside the penalty area. A reference point that Milan have lacked in the first part of the season. The second is that the German is not expected to be a starter and will be used mainly in the closing stages of matches, either to help the team hold its shape or to make the difference inside the box when Milan are laying siege in search of a winning goal. In short, Milan needed something different, but with his touch, Massimiliano Allegri might still be able to extract something useful from the experienced German striker.
