Rafa Benitez needs a striker at Premier League strugglers Newcastle United so what about Watford captain Troy Deeney or Frankfurt ace Haller?
Rafa Benitez did everything he could to bring Sebastian Haller to St James’ Park in 2016.
The Newcastle United manager personally phoned the French striker to lure him to Tyneside following a stellar spell at FC Utrecht in Holland. But Haller rejected the move to the second tier of English football, instead signing for Eintracht Frankfurt, and explained why in comments reported by L’Equipe.
“It could have been an option but, to move to the Championship, is this growth?” the France youth striker reflected in quotes reported by L’Equipe (PressReader). “The Premier League was a bit premature. I still need to play, to prove myself.”
Prove himself he certainly has. The 24-year-old Haller has been very impressive since moving to Germany two years ago. He scored nine goals last season and has six in seven Bundesliga starts so far in 2018/19.
As a result, the Chronicle reports that Benitez is still keeping a close eye on Haller’s progress with a striker understandably top of his January wish list.
Whether he will make a new move for Haller two years on remains to be seen, however. The Chronicle claims that Benitez wants an experienced Premier League striker like Watford captain Troy Deeney.
But Haller’s strength and skill leading the line means he shares a few similarities with the Hornets’ number nine.
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