West Ham United fans will be grateful for German frugality after it emerged Bayern Munich held talks to sign Sebastien Haller in the summer.
West Ham made the French striker their record £45million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt (BBC Sport).
And he has got off to a flying start in the Premier League.
Haller has three goals in as many games so far but has equally impressed with his all round game, agility and ability.
Haller der Hammer
He is fast becoming one of the signings of the summer.
But it could have been very different had European giants Bayern Munich not been so frugal.
A new report from Frankfurter Rundschau claims Bayern held talks with Haller before his arrival at West Ham, but deemed him too expensive.
The report claims the German champions had a conversation with the striker about taking him to the Allianz Arena.
But Bayern refused to match Frankfurt’s £45m asking price and ended their pursuit.
Mystery solved and Bayern might regret it
Frankfurter Rundschau claims Haller then elected to accept West Ham’s offer instead.
The report does go some way to explaining the mystery which surrounded talk the deal might go the way of Maxi Gomez before it.
There was a worrying delay which occurred just as West Ham looked set to get the signing of Haller over the line.
The 6ft 3in forward reportedly stalled briefly as he was negotiating his Hammers move after ‘late interest from a Champions League club’ – as reported at the time by the likes of The Daily Star.
Bayern frugality paid off for West Ham
Of course any player would have to consider an approach from a super club such as Bayern.
But destiny brought the striker to West Ham and the Hammers faithful are already reaping the benefits.
Bayern meanwhile could live to regret their penny-pinching.
They sit second in the fledgling Bundesliga table behind pace setters RB Leipzig while rivals Dortmund look in good shape this season too.
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