When it comes to West Ham United, striker signings can seem quite odd. The club has a propensity for throwing good money at bad strikers, leading to a fair few shocking buys over the last few years. One player who looks like he might break that curse, though, is Sebastian Haller. The former Eintracht Frankfurt man has enjoyed a strong career in Holland and in Germany; will that translate to the Premier League?
What makes him so special?
His exceptional all-around game. Quality in the air, a strong passer, and a solid finisher; there is not much that you would say that Haller has to work on to get better. For a team that needs to be able to link up its numerous attacking threats, his ability to play regular lay-offs and flick-ons should be essential to their lasting success as team.
Haller is a very impressive player, with his natural physicality ensuring that he can get involved in the build-up as well as get his team moving up the pitch. His natural finishing instinct, too, plays a major role in his ability to stand out so much in the attack. You can rely on him to get the ball to his teammates, but also to finish moves off.
Any concerns or doubts?
His biggest issue is one that you would not expect from a quick glance; Haller has a nasty habit of losing the ball when he should be able to hold it up. This can be an exercise in frustration for a lot of fans who watch him, as he has the technical and physical traits to be better at this side of his game. However, it’s not a major flaw; it’s something that he merely has to get better at over time.
For West Ham, though, Haller represents a striking package that should make a big difference to their ability to get goals.