Roland Sallai scored against West Ham United after ‘strong’ transfer interest to prove he could cut it at London Stadium
Roland Sallai says “something triggered” in him when Freiburg were drawn against West Ham after “strong interest” during the summer resulted in no transfer.
The Hungarian winger told TuttoMercatoWeb on 20 October that the goal he scored against the Hammers in a 2-1 loss on 5 October had been motivated by a desire to prove that he could perform at a good enough level if he had moved.
The 26-year-old also expressed his delight at being congratulated by Irons boss David Moyes after the game, despite the apparent transfer interest trailing off in recent months.
Sallai said: “In the summer there was strong interest which then had no follow-up. Then there was the Europa League draw and I saw that we would be playing against West Ham: there something triggered in me in terms of motivation, not so much because I wanted to show what they had missed, but because I wanted to show that I could stay at that level there. I did it.
“In football you have to fit together many variables, you know. There was interest, but then it didn’t materialise. But the congratulations from West Ham manager Moyes at the end of the match made me happy. In any case, I don’t think too much about the past, but about preparing for the match against Bochum in a couple of days.”
Future target?
If a player was already in the sights of a club then performing well against them would probably be the quickest way to spark a reconsideration of the move.
Moyes and Tim Steidten will no doubt be active in considering their plans for the January transfer window and beyond throughout the season, so Sallai may have got himself a place on their shortlist again.
He will get a second chance to impress the West Ham hierarchy when Freiburg travel to the London Stadium on 16 December, ideally timed ahead of the January window if the Irons are looking to add a wide man or second striker.
Jarrod Bowen’s long-term contract extension has provided plenty of security against an exit to the likes of Liverpool, so should mean one wing position is tied up for the foreseeable future.
Mohammed Kudus, who like Sallai can play wide or as a supporting forward, looks like he is starting to settle at the club and is likely to be a major feature if he can keep up his form.
But if Pablo Fornals, Maxwel Cornet or Said Benrahma were to move on in the winter then 46-cap Sallai could be on the agenda.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are expected to be back into the race for another player they wanted in the summer when the window opens again, ahead of Premier League rivals.