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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Issa Diop believes that West Ham United’s new striker, Sebastian Haller, is a similar player to Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku, per Goal.

What’s he said?

The Hammers completed the signing of the striker from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this summer.

Sources have confirmed to Football FanCast that the fee is an initial £45m, with the potential to rise to £50m if certain performance-related bonuses are triggered.

Haller scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Bundesliga club last season and Diop, the Irons central defender, is excited by what the Frenchman can bring to the club.

Asked about comparisons with Lukaku, United’s Belgium international, Diop said: “It’s true that they are similar because Sebastien is a target man who can also score and do everything. He also has good speed, so I would say he is a complete striker.

“As a person, he is also very good. He is humble but also very funny, so he will be good to have in the squad.

“I think he’s going to bring a lot to this club.”

Major statement

This is giving Haller a lot to live up to.

Lukaku has carved out a niche for himself as one of the best strikers in the Premier League in recent seasons.

Across spells with United, Everton, Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion, the Belgian has scored 113 goals in 252 Premier League appearances.

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Haller, of course, has an excellent scoring record of his own, having netted 24 goals in 60 Bundesliga outings and 41 in 82 in the Eredivisie.

But comparisons tend to follow players and Haller may well be pressured by Diop’s words.

Certainly, Hammers fans will be excited by the link, given that Lukaku is such a reliable goalscorer, but it remains to be seen if Haller can actually live up to it.

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