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No sooner has the debate on the Claret and Hugh forum seemingly come down on the ‘positive’ side for Niclas Füllkrug as a prospective addition to West Ham’s front line, than it seems others a little closer to home (his home) are coming to the same conclusion – that he is well worth recruiting.

Claret and Hugh’s Sean Whetstone has just confirmed what we had picked up from various news sources, that talks are at an ‘advanced stage’ for the German International along with AWB and Crysencio Summerville. However Füllkrug would appear to be in demand across Europe:

Sky’s Patrick Berger  on ‘X’ has reported that admirers are popping up from different European countries to try and hijack West Ham United’s talks to secure the 31 year old.

Athletico Madrid and AC Milan, no less, plus Stuttgart from the Bundesliga are all sitting up and taking notice with a view to competing for the German’s signature.

If any of these clubs do end up bidding against the Irons for the striker’s services it will take a bit of inspirational negotiating from Tim Steidten to seal the deal – West Ham without European football are not quite the pull we were for recruitment and at the very least other interest will push the price of the player higher.

Sadly this is something which we know causes problems for our own Board who, it must be said, do like to steal a bit of a bargain.

Cannot say I’d be disappointed, the prospect of three strikers over the age of thirty in the same Hammers squad fills me full of dread for the coming season. But I seem to be in the minority who feel in this instance we’ll be fishing old boots out of the canal instead of pearls from the Caribbean. Perhaps our front men will all be wearing shirt numbers in the 90’s to signify their combined ages next year.