Christian Pulisic close to new teammate: AC Milan reportedly make bold striker call ahead of January 2026
Christian Pulisic has established himself as AC Milan’s leader, standing out as both a scorer and a creator. Despite his efforts, the team continues to face serious offensive issues, struggling to convert their chances, which ultimately led them to lose the top spot in Serie A. To boost the USMNT star, the Rossoneri are already moving toward completing the signing of a surprise striker in January 2026.
Throughout the 2025–26 season, AC Milan have attempted to find strikers to reinforce their attack, with Joshua Zirkzee and Robert Lewandowski identified as their main targets. However, the Rossoneri have decided to pursue the signing of Niclas Füllkrug from West Ham, who would arrive on loan in January 2026 until the end of the season, as per Florian Plettenberg. Notwithstanding, the English side is pushing for the deal to include a mandatory purchase clause.
While Niclas Füllkrug is already a 32-year-old veteran, he would fit ideally into Massimiliano Allegri’s system. Unlike Santiago Giménez or Christopher Nkunku, the German is a traditional penalty-area striker, capable of pinning center backs and battling in the air. With the mobility of the USMNT star and Rafael Leão around him, his arrival would be ideal, offering a tactical alternative that the coach currently lacks and creating space for his teammates.
Zirkzee may have been a more eye-catching option due to his youth and potential, but he presents a fairly similar profile to Giménez or Nkunku. Rather than being a striker who can impose himself physically and occupy defenders, he is a mobile forward who thrives alongside a reference No. 9 and does not stand out as a pure goal scorer. Moreover, his arrival could be far more complex due to Bryan Mbeumo’s departure from Manchester United for the AFCON.
Füllkrug’s arrival would open a spot for a rising AC Milan striker
Being a seasoned veteran, Niclas Füllkrug would serve as a short-term solution for AC Milan, a decision that has drawn criticism from some fans. However, the potential arrival of the 32-year-old star would be ideal, as it would not hinder the progression of one of the team’s most promising players—something that bringing in Joshua Zirkzee, who is only 24 years old, might risk.
Having come through AC Milan’s youth academy, Francesco Camarda is one of the club’s most promising talents in Italy. At just 17 years old, he decided to go on loan to Lecce in Serie A, where he has impressed enough to catch Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s attention. While he could potentially leave the club due to a €3 million clause, the Rossoneri retain a €4 million buy-back option.
Although Camarda has yet to establish himself as a prolific scorer at Lecce, his development positions him as one of the team’s brightest prospects, viewed as the future leader of the attack alongside Christian Pulisic. In this context, the potential arrival of veteran Niclas Füllkrug would support his growth, providing a smoother adaptation to the team. This makes signing another young striker less of a priority, allowing AC Milan to focus on strengthening the defense.