Niclas Fullkrug is leaving West Ham United red-faced with his sensational goalscoring form at Werder Bremen, but Hammers News can exclusively reveal why Nuno Espirito Santo wanted the German striker out of the club.

The 33-year-old has been in sensational form since returning to the Bundesliga, scoring seven goals in seven appearances on loan at Werder Bremen. His latest double rescued a 2-2 draw against Paderborn on Saturday after his side had fallen two goals behind.

It is an extraordinary turnaround for Niclas Fullkrug, who managed just three goals in 27 appearances for West Ham before struggling during his subsequent loan spell at AC Milan.

And with Pablo, Taty Castellanos and Joel Piroe all struggling to convince in the Championship, Fullkrug’s resurgence is threatening to leave the Hammers with egg on their face.

It is worth noting that there were few tears shed when the German was loaned out again following West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League.

West Ham source reveals truth behind Fullkrug decision

But while most supporters had given up on him, some believed he could thrive in the second tier, where his physicality and finishing might prove more valuable than the pace and mobility demanded in the Premier League.

With West Ham fighting to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, Hammers News put it to a leading source inside the club whether Fullkrug could have stayed to lead the line in the Championship.

We also asked why West Ham allowed the veteran forward to leave on another loan deal when promotion is so important to the club’s future.

The answer was illuminating.

Hammers News has been exclusively told the decision was taken entirely by Nuno Espirito Santo, rather than being imposed by the new-look board or recruitment director Nils Koppen.

“The manager made it clear to the board and Nils Koppen he did not want to have him (Fullkrug) under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,” the leading West Ham source exclusively told Hammers News.

The source acknowledged the optics of the situation are far from ideal, but the power given to Nuno should be reassuring for Hammers fans.

“On paper we have loaned out, for no fee, the leading goalscorer in Germany so it is understandable that will raise question marks!” the West Ham source continued.

“And it is hard to believe he would have failed in the Championship.”

Nuno’s complete control at West Ham should be celebrated

That is a remarkable admission given the circumstances at West Ham, where the need for a reliable goalscorer has become increasingly apparent.

Fullkrug’s latest goals have only intensified the scrutiny of West Ham’s attacking options.

Castellanos, who cost a reported £27m when he arrived from Lazio in January, has lost his place and struggled to make an impact when given opportunities. Piroe, meanwhile, has yet to establish himself as the answer since joining on loan from Leeds.

All three have question marks hanging over them, while Fullkrug is scoring almost every time he takes to the pitch in Germany.

His lack of mobility was a major concern during his time in England, and injuries prevented him from establishing any meaningful consistency. But supporters who felt he deserved a Championship opportunity are entitled to wonder what might have happened had he stayed.

There is, however, another side to the story.

Regardless of whether supporters agree with the decision, West Ham have given Nuno the authority to shape his squad according to his own footballing vision.

The manager must decide which players suit his tactical approach, which characters he wants in the dressing room and how best to build the spirit and togetherness needed to win a promotion battle.

If Nuno genuinely believed Fullkrug had no place in his plans, keeping the German simply because he might score goals in the Championship would have created its own problems.

The decision is therefore not necessarily evidence of boardroom incompetence or a recruitment failure. It was the manager’s call, and he must ultimately be judged on the results his chosen squad delivers.

But that does not make the optics any less uncomfortable.

West Ham are chasing promotion with three strikers who have struggled for consistency, while a player they loaned out without a fee is scoring for fun in Germany.

Nuno has been given the power to make the big decisions at West Ham. Now he must prove that this was the right one.