West Ham’s record signing Sebastien Haller says he is not feeling pressure to justify his £45million transfer fee.
The 25-year-old striker joined from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal which could reach £55m.
Asked if he feels extra pressure being the club’s most expensive player, Haller said: “Frankly, not really. I arrived in England where huge sums are exchanged in the transfer window. I do not think it is a big transfer from my side and all this is part of the game. It is a strong gesture on the part of the club. It is a mark of confidence. It shows they really wanted me.”
West Ham signed Haller after deciding to sell Marko Arnautovic to China but the French forward insists he does not care about talk of him replacing the Austrian.
Haller told L'Equipe: “I am not someone who follows football news. I do not care too much about who was there before me. I want to bring all I can and adapt as quickly as possible and repay the confidence that was shown.”
Haller was scheduled to train with the West Ham squad for the first time on Tuesday along with fellow new signing Pablo Fornals.
The pair have been training at the club’s Rush Green training ground since the end of last week but they will join up with the rest of the squad following their return from China.
Haller and Fornals could make their debuts when West Ham play Fulham in a friendly at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
