West Ham consider cancelling player's contract two years early amid desperate financial situation

West Ham are considering whether to cancel the contract of one of their players after relegation to the Championship - two years before it is due to expire.

The Hammers dropped down to the second tier on Sunday after their 3-0 win over Leeds.

They needed Tottenham to lose to Everton for them to stay up, but Roberto De Zerbi's side managed to win 1-0 over Leeds.

Now starts the long preparation for a return to the Championship, where West Ham haven't played for 14 years.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo could leave the club after talks with the club's hierarchy, while the Hammers will reportedly need to raise up to £180 million through player sales.

Then there is the question of the club's London Stadium, the crucial source of matchday revenue, and whether fans will continue to flock through the gates next season.

READ NEXT: West Ham player's partner posts furious message to Nuno Espirito Santo about his treatment

Fans have become exasperated about the club's incoherent transfer strategy in recent years, with huge fees being splashed out on players that haven't produced huge amounts of success for the club.

And the club are acting quickly to axe a player whose performances, compared with his outlay, perhaps is one of the best to sum up why the Hammers are in their current position.

West Ham plan to axe flop after £27m deal

Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug arrived at West Ham for £27 million in the summer of 2024 and has scored three goals for the club.

He made eight Premier League appearances this season without scoring before being sent out on loan to AC Milan in January.

Niclas Fullkrug has spent the second half of the 2025/26 season on loan at AC Milan (Image: Getty)

There, Fullkrug has netted just once in 19 appearances and missed out on Germany's World Cup squad when it was named last week.

BILD report that West Ham will either cancel his contract entirely or allow him to leave for a minimal transfer fee, with two years remaining on his contract.

They add it is 'virtually impossible' that he remains in England and that he doesn't have a release clause in his contract, amid links to former club Werder Bremen.

Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Serie A side Venezia are interested in signing the striker, but that he must first 'free himself' from West Ham.