Vitiello explains what Füllkrug must do to earn Milan stay: “It all depends on him”

Niclas Füllkrug celebrated his first birthday with AC Milan on Monday, but whether it is his last at the club is yet to be decided.

As a reminder, Füllkrug was a signing that Milan lined up in advance of the winter window opening, as they wanted a target man. They agreed a deal with West Ham United on the basis of a loan with an option to buy, and it was made official on the day that the mercato opened.

So far, the German has already made quite an impact. He scored the winning goal against Lecce at San Siro last month, a proud moment for him, and has been an impact man off the bench mostly. A broken toe has not halted him either, as he continues to play through the pain.

‘He should have performed better’

Will that be enough to convince Milan? Antonio Vitiello has provided his take on the situation in his latest column for MilanNews, commenting on what the future might hold for the former Borussia Dortmund man.

“Yesterday was Niclas Fullkrug’s birthday: he blew out 33 candles, but he hopes to celebrate in four months when the decision on his buyout from West Ham comes,” he said.

“The German, who scored the three-point goal against Lecce, hopes to stay in Milan – he’s enjoying his time with the team, loves the city, and is proud to wear the Rossoneri shirt. But it all depends on him, on the performances he puts in until the end of the season.

“Fullkrug will have to fight hard to secure a starting spot, but above all, he’ll have to make the most of his opportunities in the penalty area. For example, he should have performed much better in Bologna, when he had two great chances in front of the opposing goalkeeper in the closing stages. He needs to shine and be decisive. Only then can he earn a permanent contract.

“To buy him from West Ham, Milan will have to pay around €5m, a sum within the Rossoneri’s reach, but before making a permanent purchase, they want to see some solid performances on the pitch from Füllkrug. Also because his salary will be double the amount he currently earns, which is 1.5 million until the end of the year.”