Judging a footballer off the basis of one YouTube compilation – especially when said footballer is relatively unknown in British football, a la the West Ham United-linked St Etienne striker Lucas Stassin – is always a dangerous game.
After all, if you devoted a decade recording every Sunday League outing of the Andys, Darrens and Steves – booze on their breath and last night’s curry sauce staining their shirts – then you would probably end up with enough moments for a heavily-edited ‘best of’ mix.
Though, amid reports claiming that West Ham are looking to bring in Lucas Stassin from St Etienne this summer, this is a centre-forward who not only passes the eye test.
To quote the man himself, Stassin is a mix of Romelu Lukaku and Lois Openda. The burly Belgian shares Lukaku’s ability to shrug off opposition central defenders while picking the right moment to strike inside the penalty area.
Stassin is also mobile and skilful enough to drop off the front, drift wide, and leave markers for dead with a burst of pace or a change of direction. Like RB Leipzig sensation Openda.
Les Verts coach Eirik Horneland sums it up nicely when he describes the ‘hybrid’ Belgium Under-21 international as something ‘between a number nine and a number ten’.
The instincts of a nine combined with the intelligence of a ten.
West Ham United fans excited by St Etienne striker Lucas Stassin
After conducting a quick YouTube search, 20-year-old Stassin has already earned himself a few new fans based in the East of London.
“[Stassin is] literally able to do what Niclas Fullkrug is,” one West Ham supporter writes on X. “A build-up man with better finishing and movement. Absolute class.”
“Never heard of him but watched a comp and I’m moved,” one says, while another agrees. “Now this is a player.”
“Really hope we go for Lucas Stassin. Something about him just gives off the aura that West Ham need.”
“He looks insane!”
“Stassin > [Liam] Delap.”
Delve a little deeper, however, and Lucas Stassin appears even more impressive than his return of 12 goals in 23 Ligue 1 starts for a relegated St Etienne suggests.
Stassin ‘suited to the Premier League’ after brilliant season in France
According to stats experts Data MB, Stassin averages better numbers in a variety of departments than the other standout young centre-forwards across the continent.
“These are the types of profiles we should look for,” one fan says, feeling that West Ham would benefit from the sort of ‘data-driven’ approach which has worked wonders for Brighton and Brentford, to name but two.
“Do I know if he’s the right signing? No! I’ve never watched him. But I know these are the data-driven players we should look into instead of signing big six scraps for massive wages we can’t afford.”
Amid claims that West Ham are moving for Brondby hitman Mathias Kvistgaarden too – 23 goals last season and 23 candles on his birthday cake – it appears that the Hammers have indeed moved beyond the attraction to ageing big names who cost a lot but deliver little.
“[Compared to Kvistgaarden, Stassin is] far more suited to the Premier League and has much higher ceiling in my opinion!” another supporter explains after watching the St Etienne star closely. “We need a lot of quality in attack over the summer. This would be an excellent start.”
“Great thing if we can pull this off.”
“Personally, I pick Stassin. In my opinion, he’s far more suited to the Premier League and I’ve been more than impressed with his finishing and overall game.”
When contacted by Hammers News this week, a spokesman for the club’s owners explained that suggestions of talks already taking place with St Etienne are false.
However, once West Ham raise some much-needed funds via a few summer sales, this is a player who may appear near the top of their striker shortlist.
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