Sebastien Haller’s fate revealed as Dortmund boss shares plan for former £45m West Ham striker

Finally, some clarity from Borussia Dortmund on the future of former West Ham United and Premier League hitman Sebastien Haller.

Well, what future?

The Ivory Coast international certainly doesn’t appear to have much of one at Signal Iduna Park.

Six years since West Ham United paid £45 million to make Sebastien Haller their record signing, the former Ajax and Eintracht Frankfurt man was conspicuous by his absence when Borussia Dortmund named their Club World Cup squad earlier this month.

Just like at Stamford Bridge – where Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca omitted Djordje Petrovic from his roster amid interest from the Hammers – it is no coincidence that Haller joins the similarly out-of-favour Youssoufa Moukoko in being left at home.

A decision made, it seems, to give both players more time to find a club willing to offer them the kind of opportunities no longer present at the 1997 Champions League winners.

As sporting director Sebastien Kehl explains, ‘there are issues’ in the Dortmund squad. High among them being a high-earning centre-forward who spent last season on loan at FC Utrecht, and now finds himself under pressure to locate a permanent home.

Former West Ham United striker Sebastien Haller to leave Borussia Dortmund

Sebastien Haller was briefly a man reborn in the Eredivisie. Back at the club where he made his name a decade earlier, 30-year-old Haller scored in three successive league matches in April.

A run which included a 4-0 trouncing of Ajax. A stunning result which accelerated the remarkable collapse of Francesco Farioli’s runaway leaders-turned-devastated runners-up.

“There are players who aren’t currently involved [Haller, Moukoko and midfielder Salih Ozcan], and they are obviously being discussed.

“Nevertheless, things are still quiet in many areas. Maybe something will happen in the next few days. Let’s wait and see.”