West Ham finished their season strongly last time out, and Manuel Pellegrini's aim to move the club one step further have resulted in a couple of high profile arrivals at London Stadium. A new signing is a powerful thing, not only to influence results on the pitch, but excite Hammers fans in the running too.
The Hammers broke their transfer record again (following Felipe Anderson's arrival last summer), to bring hotly-tipped French striker Sebastien Haller to lead the line following wantaway Marko Arnautovic's somewhat inevitable departure for China.Â
Haller, who had wowed in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, looks set to be a major influence on the Hammers' attacking fortunes this season, and we took a deeper look at the striker...
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A towering French forward with a good eye for goal, Haller registered a handsome 20 goals and 12 assists last campaign, showing all the attributes to make him an instant hit at London Stadium.
Starting his career at his native side Auxerre, Haller's first move took him to FC Utrecht in Holland. This was when he reportedly first caught the eye of West Ham, but a move never materialised and he switched to Frankfurt. A key part of the German club's run to the Europa League semi-finals last season, he struck a great partnership with Luka Jovic, now the spearhead at Real Madrid. Scoring five goals in 10 games in the competition, he is a penalty box poacher who will lap up the service from West Ham’s attacking armoury.
As well as his goal-scoring supremacy, watchers of Haller call him the epitomy of ‘great feet for a big man’. Standing at 6ft 2in, he is a dominating presence who run in the behind but also prove a perfect link-man who midfielders breaking into the box. In Manuel Lanzini, Felipe Anderson, Michail Antonio and Fornals, the Hammers have that in abundance.Â
Three or more goals were scored on seven occasions at London Stadium last year, with the addition of Haller, potentially a 20 goal a season striker, we'd bet that there'll be plenty of fireworks to come at the venue this season.
