Forum | General Discussion

At the beginning of last season, the Hammers hierarchy knew they had pushed the boat out, laying out close to £100 Million in players acquisitions, but more importantly they engaged a 'proper' title winning manager in the form of Manuel Pellegrini. Despite a woeful start and a dreadful injury list, Pellegrini's team eventually found their feet by playing open exciting football, dare we say 'the West Ham way'. Had it not been for an obdurate Austrian and his complicit brother, the club could have finished seventh in the Barclays Premier League, thereby qualifying for the Europa League, alas it was not to be!

Having acquired a 'proper' manager and virtually rebuilt the team, the club were looking forward to the new season, but then Arnautovic and his brother stuck their elbows out by insisting on kicking up such a fuss that the club were willing to take a massive financial hit just to get rid of the toxicity surrounding the 'Arnie' clan. Arnautovic was never a 'proper' striker, he was 'converted' by David Moyes from being a winger, but eventually turned in to a whinger!

The reason Arnautovic did so well initially was that there was little if any competition to stop him being the main man, Javier Hernandez spent much of the season running around with a scowl on his face despite earning in excess of £140,000 per week, and when he was needed he managed to get a virus that put him out for nearly two months. Jordan Hugill looked like a rabbit staring at head lights, Lucas Perez did something to upset Pellegrini and Andy Carroll surpassed his previous injury stats by only playing three games.

The latter two have since departed, Hammers wasted no time in their pursuit of replacement 'hit men', the Maxi Gomez saga, played out far too much in the media, may have been a ruse and always seemed a bit dodgy, however the player who may have been the main target is on his way to London to have a medical. Eintrecht Frankfurt's Sebastian Haller is a 'proper' striker, the 25 year old Frenchman stands 6'3" tall and 'ripped up' the Bundesliga last season scoring and assisting at will.

It is a 'hall' of a deal that will bring the vastly effective hit man to the London Stadium, the 'undisclosed' total is unclear, however personal terms of £100,000 per week have been agreed over a five year deal. The fee Eintrecht are asking is €45 Million, which added to wages and bonuses equates to an overall commitment from the club in the region of just under an eye watering £100 Million! Or to put that figure in perspective, virtually the same amount as Andy Carroll cost the club once you factor in inflation.

Haller is like a more mobile, but more importantly much fitter, version of Andy Carroll, he can lead the line or bring other players in to the game. He is equally adept with his feet as he is in the air and would represent Hammers first 'proper' striker since as far back as Dean Ashton. At 25 years of age Haller is a good investment, even after three years he will be at his peak and therefore still be very valuable. There is a little bit of a problem with regards to a sell on clause that Eintrecht wanted inserted in the deal, but from what our sources have told us the issue is not insurmountable and was just the German club trying to be a 'little greedy' by all accounts.

We will have all the nitty gritty details later, but make no mistake, this is properly good news for West Ham fans, a proper manager, a proper striker and heaven forbid proper owners? - Ed

Despite appearing to have put all their eggs in one basket in their failed pursuit of Celta Vigo's Maxi Gomez, it is inconceivable that Manuel Pellegrini and Mario Husillos do not have a plan (b), a plan (c) or even a plan (z) ! The most recent, and most intriguing name being linked with the Hammers recruitment team is Eintracht Frankfurt's Sebastian Haller, the 25 year old French striker just enjoyed a prolific season in the Bundesliga, scoring on average a goal every other game.

Sebastien Haller is not a cheap alternative, he will cost around £40 Million which Hammers can pay, albeit in instalments! Personal terms shouldn't be much of an issue, however the player will need convincing that a move to the London Stadium will be in his long term interest. Haller's 6'3" frame is ideally suited to the rigours of the Barclays Premier League, his acquisition would go a long way to compensating for the failure to sign Maxi Gomez, indeed many fans see Haller as a better option than Gomez.

Three years after rejecting the chance to sign Ben Yedder Hammers are rumoured to be interested to run the rule over the player again, in the summer of 2016, West Ham made Ben Yedder a target, but both David Sullivan and Slaven Bilic had doubts about his physicality. Given that he is just 5' 7" tall, Yedder was deemed too small, so Instead West Ham decided to sign Simone Zaza, who failed to score a single goal during his time in England.

Since moving from Toulouse to Sevilla, Yedder has excelled in Spain and has just completed an excellent campaign during which he scored 30 goals in all competitions for the La Liga club, taking his total tally to 70 goals in 138 games across three years for Sevilla. The France international is an undoubted goal threat despite his physical limitations, having scored 71 in 174 from Toulouse prior to his move to Spain. The other factor that puts this possible transfer on the back burner is that Yedder is 28 years old, not exactly in keeping with the club's 'buy young' remit.

West Ham United's most successful top flight finish was achieved using two 'light weights' up top, but then again they were Tony Cottee and Frank Mc Avennie, and also the game was played in entirely different circumstances back in the day. Given Pellegrini's propensity of using just one striker, a player of Haller's physical prowess will surely be his preferred option. - Ed