One player has been lighting it up in the Champions League since he left West Ham United a few years ago.
West Ham have actually been close to qualifying for the Champions League a couple of times over the past seven or eight years – once in 2016 and another time in the 2020/21 season.
Instead we’ve had to make do with the Europa League and the Europa Conference League – a competition that David Moyes led us to victory in last season.
There was actually talk earlier this season that the Hammers had the players needed to qualify for the Champions League, but Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher dismissed those shouts as overly ambitious.
He’s right as well. Given how strong the Premier League is now, finishing inside the top seven would be a huge achievement for Moyes and his players.
However, the West Ham squad could be even stronger now, had the Scot kept hold of some of his better players, and one man in particular…
Player on fire in the Champions League since West Ham exit
Moyes has had plenty of success stories when it comes to transfers since he returned to the London Stadium in December 2019.
However, he’s had a few shockers as well, it must be said.
Moyes has actually been criticised for giving up on players far too quickly in the past, and this player definitely can be put into that bracket…
Sebastien Haller fits into that category because of his incredible form since he left the London Stadium.
West Ham sold the 29-year-old to Ajax in January 2021 for around £20 million (The Times). He then left the Dutch side to join Borussia Dortmund for £30 million in the summer of 2022 (Goal).
The former Eintracht Frankfurt hitman was a huge hit with Ajax and he has been a revelation at Dortmund.
His Champions League record speaks for itself…
Sebastien Haller Champions League stats
12 goals in 13 Champions League appearances (Transfermarkt) tell us all we need to know about the former West Ham striker’s quality.
Those are some seriously impressive numbers from Haller, and it just makes you think that Moyes gave up on him far too soon.
Sure, he didn’t suit the Scot’s playing style, but shouldn’t the Hammers boss have attempted to mix things up to get the best out of the Ivory Coast international?
I believe that he should have, and the fact Moyes was so quick to get rid of Haller is a damning indictment of his eye for a top-class player.
Imagine Haller up front now in between Mo Kudus and Jarrod Bowen and just in front of Lucas Paqueta! That would have been seriously dangerous.
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