FORMIDABLE
West Ham transfer news: How Hammers could look next season with Sebastien Haller and Pablo Fornals
The Hammers have found their Marko Arnautovic replacement and also got a deal done for the exciting Spain international
Following Marko Arnautovic's departure to China, West Ham's priority was to sign a new striker.
Things didn't get off to the best of starts after Uruguayan frontman Maxi Gomez opted to join Valencia from Celta Vigo earlier this month.
6
However, the Hammers have found their Arnautovic replacement as Eintracht Frankfurt's Sebastien Haller has joined the Premier League club.
West Ham agreed a deal for the Frenchman, 25, which is thought to be worth around £45million.
Haller scored 19 goals for Frankfurt in all competitions last season, a decent return given he had to compete with the likes of Luka Jovic and Ante Rebic for game time.
6
This has been a busy summer window for West Ham which has seen them get rid of the likes of Lucas Perez and the injury-prone Andy Carroll.
They also sealed a deal for exciting Spain midfielder Pablo Fornals on a five-year contract earlier this summer.
With Haller and Fornals, West Ham have the potential to be a formidable team next season and marvelbet369.com has taken a look at how they might look in the 2019/20 campaign.
LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS
Adrian Durham thinks that West Ham could push into the top four next season in the Premier League
Option 1 - 4-1-4-1
The Hammers adopted this system last season and they're becoming a more solid outfit having won their last three matches of the season.
Declan Rice should be a regular in the holding role but further up the pitch is where the changes in personnel could happen.
Ahead of Rice will be a midfield four which should see Fornals play alongside veteran Mark Noble but the Spaniard would have the more technical and attacking role, while Felipe Anderson and Michail Antonio could go on the left and right wings respectively.
Haller is a striker similar to Arnautovic in that he can hold up the ball well so should do just fine on his own up top.
6
Option 2 - 4-1-4-1 (Attacking)
However, the signings of Haller and Fornals could see West Ham go more attacking instead.
In this system, Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini could opt to play the Spaniard in an attacking midfield role alongside Manuel Lanzini, who is a fan favourite.
Anderson is on the left while Andriy Yarmolenko, who sustained a torn Achilles early last season could go on the right.
But this system would leave Noble struggling for a place in the starting XI. At the age of 32, his West Ham career could be coming to a gradual end.
6
Option 3 - 4-3-3
Pellegrini may go for a very positive style of play following Haller's arrival and could even try a 4-3-3 system.
Haller would be at the tip of the front line and would effectively bring the likes of Anderson, Lanzini and Yarmolenko into the game.
West Ham would have a midfield three with Rice in the holding role, alongside Noble and Fornals.
Fornals would have more licence to join the attacks due to his great quality which he showcased during the Under-21 European Championship in the summer.
6
Option 4 - 4-2-2-2
Former Manchester City boss could go back to winning formula after bringing in Haller and Fornals.
He used this formation successfully at Villarreal and at City but it could put a couple of fan favourites on the fringe.
Rice would, more than likely, form a shield with Noble or Jack Wilshere, allowing Arthur Masuaku and Ryan Fredericks to push further forward.
The high full-backs should see Anderson and Fornals operating behind a front two of Haller and Javier Hernandez, who was recently given the no.9 shirt.
Haller's all-round ability would complement that of a poacher like Chicharito and could see them both in the goals.
6
Topics