'Too cheap' - Former West Ham chief is 'certain' last year's signing will come good after disappointing season
A former West Ham chief has backed his decision to spend big on one particular player.
Former West Ham sporting director Tim Steidten says he stands by his decision to spend big on veteran striker Niclas Fullkrug during his final days at the London Stadium. Fullkrug was signed for more than £18million and struggled for fitness during his first season as a Hammer.
Fullkrug has shown he can score goals at the very top level, but injury issues got the best of him last season, and he only managed 18 Premier League appearances. The striker is 32 years of age and his age makes him a risky investment for West Ham, but the club’s former sporting chief Steidten believes the deal was a good one.
“Niclas is fit. I messaged him a few days ago – physically, he is in top shape,” he said told Sky Sports Germany. “I am certain that he will function one hundred per cent in the Premier League. In the end, we were at a fee of 22 million euros with Dortmund, and I would do the transfer again at any time. Dortmund said he had been too expensive – for me, he was still too cheap. Niclas was not only the type of player I was looking for on the pitch, but also someone who can lead the team off the pitch.“
Fullkrug has already addressed his frustrating first season at West Ham himself. He told Sky Sports at the end of the campaign: “I'm looking forward to my second year in the Premier League. My first wasn't the best,.
"I like the style and hope to do better next season. The Premier League is dynamic and physical. Teams follow their own path, go head-to-head with an open visor. It's more of a direct power struggle. I'm happy there. I read reports suggesting I'm not, but that's not the case. I'm back to a good fitness level and can't wait for next season.”
Potter appreciates Fullkrug’s passion
Fullkrug did make headlines when he slammed the lack of motivation from his teammates during the season in an x-rated rant. iron boss Graham Potter did not love the public-nature of the outburst, but he does appreciate the striker’s passion. He said at the time: “I think sometimes you have to understand that after a game, everyone's emotional. It should be that way,” Potter said. “Because football is about emotion. It can be that tactically we had some challenges. It could be that there's a baggage that we're carrying from the previous 50 matches with the expectation high at West Ham.
“And having to deal with the reality of the situation now can also play on the players' minds. They're only human. I accept that he's emotional at the end of the game. I think he wears his heart on his sleeve. I would disagree with him in some things and agree with him in others. But he's entitled to his opinion. And as a senior player, we've had lots of honest conversations. And I think for me it's better to have the conversations in private, not in public.
“How boring would it be if players couldn't speak after a game? How boring would that be? I don't want that. At the same time we all have a responsibility to the club and the team and we have to try and manage the both. I don't want robots, I don't want people not saying anything. What Niclas said is not helpful or unhelpful. He said it, no problem. And we have to then deal with it.”
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