“SHOCKING! West Ham’s £30M Striker Sensation ALREADY Declared a GOD Compared to Niclas Fullkrug – You WON’T Believe This!”

Niclas Fullkrug’s challenging first season in English football must be seen in context.

Persistent injuries limited his playing time, but his tally of three goals and two assists from just five starts suggests he remains a serious threat when fully fit.

However, questions were raised when £27 million was spent on a then-32-year-old striker whose lack of pace and mobility always seemed likely to be exposed at Premier League level.

That gamble hasn’t fully paid off, and now, with Caught Offside reporting West Ham’s interest in Tim Kleindienst for around £30 million, comparisons between the two strikers are inevitable—and potentially concerning.

Kleindienst, who turns 30 in August, bears more than a passing resemblance to Fullkrug.

Both are tall, physical forwards who matured later in their careers and spent significant time in Germany’s second division.

When Fullkrug was sidelined in October and missed Germany’s UEFA Nations League matches, national team manager Julian Nagelsmann turned to Kleindienst—a similarly old-school, physically dominant forward who could offer a strong presence up front for the likes of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala to work around.

Lothar Matthäus, Germany legend and 1990 Ballon d’Or winner, remarked at the time: “Tim Kleindienst could soon become an alternative to Fullkrug if he maintains his recent form.

He’s intelligent, strong, and excellent in the air.”

So, with Fullkrug failing to live up to expectations and price tag, is West Ham setting themselves up for disappointment by pursuing what some are calling “Fullkrug 2.0”?

Despite the obvious similarities, it’s important to remember that every transfer is unique and should be judged on its own merits.

Since making his Germany debut in October, Kleindienst has scored four goals in six appearances and now appears to have permanently overtaken Fullkrug as the national team’s main striker.

That injury to Fullkrug may have been a turning point, opening the door for Kleindienst at both the international level and possibly, in the near future, at West Ham.

Borussia Mönchengladbach sporting director Ronald Virkus has praised Kleindienst’s impact since his move from Heidenheim, where he’s notched 16 Bundesliga goals.

“He’s a threat in front of goal and works hard for the team,” said Virkus. “He brings stability, can hold the ball up, and makes intelligent runs behind the defence.”

Although Kleindienst himself humbly admits he’s “not the most technically gifted” player, the Bundesliga’s official website compares him to Edin Džeko—a tall, physical striker who is much more than just a finisher, capable of linking play and scoring in a variety of ways.

This contrasts with Fullkrug, who’s often seen as more one-dimensional and reliant on service in the box.

Bundesliga analyst Bernd Schmelzer echoed this sentiment on the Fever Pitch podcast: “Kleindienst fits well into Nagelsmann’s system.

He has qualities that Fullkrug may lack—more movement, intelligence, and a team-first attitude. He’s always on the move, dragging defenders and creating space for others.”

This kind of mobility and tactical intelligence could make Kleindienst a strong fit at West Ham, particularly alongside creative, fleet-footed attackers like Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, and Crysencio Summerville.

While comparisons with Fullkrug will likely persist, Kleindienst’s broader skill set and recent success with Germany suggest he could break the cycle of failed striker signings in East London.