Player Focus: Important Decision Ahead for Sought After Sébastien Haller

With this season's Eredivisie halfway through and resuming from its winter slumber a week from Friday there's no better time to cast an early eye on those in contention for 'player of the year'. One particular candidate might not be plying his trade in the league come the season's end. The man in question is Sébastien Haller, the much vaunted FC Utrecht striker.

To say the last 18 months have been a breakthrough for the 21-year-old Frenchman is an understatement with limitless possibilities as to what course of action he decides to take in 2016 that will have a huge bearing on whether or not he fulfils his potential.

The numbers don't lie and for Utrecht's marksman in chief it spells momentum: only Luuk de Jong (24) scored more goals than him (22) throughout 2015, whilst further out he was the most effective French goalscorer based in Europe, scoring once every 121 minutes to beat the more celebrated names of Kévin Gameiro and Karim Benzema by 120 seconds. A relative unknown prior to joining from Auxerre as a graduate of their esteemed academy in the summer of 2014 – initially on loan before signing a permanent contract a year later – it naturally hasn't taken long for his name to be recognised, being linked with a move away to Sunderland and Norwich City the most recent examples.

Haller, conscious of his rising stock, wants to strike while the iron is hot. So, it's not surprising that he is eyeing a senior international call-up ahead of this summer's European Championship in his homeland. However there's no indication Didier Deschamps, with only a few months before UEFA's showpiece event, is aware of his exploits let alone considering to pick up the phone. The chances are he already has the identities of his forwards – the usual suspects – written down.

No one should be penalised for being ambitious but in Haller's case he needs to be equally realistic. From his perspective moving and succeeding in a more taxing league will significantly raise his already bourgeoning profile, especially when you consider the disheartening caveat that France – an elite football nation with its elite division, Ligue 1, a member of the 'big five' European leagues – are unlikely to select a player from one of Europe's so-called semi-periphery leagues.

He won't be the first to use the division as a springboard, yet there's no need for a sudden departure, many in the not-so-distant past have prematurely left for pastures new – feeling it would greatly benefit their long-term aspirations – only to seemingly disappear off the face of the Earth.

Though speculation continues to swirl unabated Haller, it must be noted, hasn't quite outgrown the league (even if those in his ear think otherwise) and would be wise to remember that at this stage of his young career he's in a good and stable environment. For all its unmissable drama and unpredictability, the Eredivisie is a proven breeding ground, a new economic reality – which traces its origins back to the mid-1990s – has seen the Dutch top competition evolve into a league where there's now greater emphasis on development,  solidifying its reputation as an attractive destination, in terms of education, for talents across Europe and elsewhere.

FC Utrecht, despite not being one of the elite Dutch clubs – their halcyon days being the early to mid-1980s – remain equally ambitious. Acquiring the services of Erik ten Hag, a former player, ahead of this latest campaign – after he spent the previous two seasons working under Pep Guardiola at Bayern München as their reserve team manager – was an indicator to where they are heading as an organisation.

Ten Hag, one of Europe's brightest young coaching talents, never had a spectacular playing career – registering 300 competitive appearances, primarily as a central defender, spanning 12 years – but that hasn't stopped many from excelling in the dugout. He would make his name by guiding Go Ahead Eagles to Eredivisie promotion in 2013, ending a 17-year absence, before serving as an assistant coach at PSV and his boyhood club FC Twente. But just as he was preparing for his first top-flight season as a manager the German powerhouse came calling, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he couldn't pass up.

It was a smart move. Not many young and impressionable coaches get the chance to rub shoulders with a man of Guardiola's prestige and gain access to him on a constant basis, consequently absorbing his ideas. His brief tenure in Munich undoubtedly enhanced his footballing intelligence. FC Utrecht are the first, post-Bayern, to benefit from such an enlightening seminar.

In his first 20 games in charge (17 in the league and 3 in the KNVB Beker) he's shown to be one of the more tactically flexible coaches around, utilising at least four different systems - the most prominent being his 5-3-2 (used in 10 matches), though most recently he's dabbled with a 4-4-2 diamond in six of their last eight games, while the other two saw him deploy a 3-5-2. It's clear he seeks equilibrium between both phases of the game, making Utrecht a relentless threat in the opposition half and a presence in their own. However, understandably, his project remains a work in progress. Utrecht currently occupy seventh place (final Europa League play-off spot) – seven wins and five defeats to date – with the fifth best attack (28 goals scored) and seventh meanest defence (25 goals conceded).

Ten Hag's use of two centre-forwards, which is uncommon across Europe let alone in the nation where 4-3-3 is sacrosanct, has allowed for the blossoming of a strike partnership between Haller and the rejuvenated Nacer Barazite, formerly of Arsenal. While the latter has shone the headlines have been continually written by Haller, who offers a throwback to traditional centre-forward play from the days when centre forwards bullied defenders with their aggression and physical power.

Number 9's are judged solely on goals and Haller hasn't disappointed: 11 goals in 16 games with a 26.1% conversion rate (responsible for 39% of his teams output) places him joint third in the golden boot race – incidentally no Utrecht player has ever collected this prize – which is led by the aforementioned De Jong. He, like Haller, has picked up four WhoScored 'man of the match' accolades, the most by anybody so far this season. Not blessed with electric pace, though he's completed more than half (53.3%) of his attempted dribbles, the key to Haller's  success has been good timing and positioning;  a critique once upon a time.

A growing confidence, largely a result of his deeds, has turned him into a menace inside the penalty area, where all of his strikes have occurred as well as establishing himself as a firm fan favourite (winner of the David di Tommaso trophy last season).

There is a tendency, not helped by recent history, of being wary of forwards shining in the Eredivisie, even though we must rationally keep in mind for every individual story there's differing factors that can explain their slump (or – to counter – success: one of whom played a pivotal role in Barça winning their second European treble last season). But the stigma hasn't relented.

Of course defences at the highest level aren't as impregnable as ones found in the Netherlands – only Norway's Tippeligaen averages more goals per game – however, football is a simple game and if Haller, going back to an earlier point, were to succeed in England, Spain or Italy for the sake of argument, it's imperative his next club suits him down to a tee.

In a short space of time Haller, whose represented France at various youth levels, has shown the capacity to evolve and is far from being one-dimensional unlike, say, Afonso Alves whose freak season (2006–07) with Heerenveen catapulted him to infamy. Haller's languid style, coupled with strong hold-up play, has made him the ideal focal point as well as an aerial threat – winning 66.4% of his airborne duels and scoring twice via the head. Although he only makes the twelfth most passes per game at the club (28.5), he averages the fifth most key passes per game (1) and is joint third when it comes to assists (2), while a 7.57 WhoScored rating is only bettered by five others in the league.

Ideally he will see out his contract, but the more noise that is generated the harder it'll become for Utrecht to retain him, particularly if the sum offered is astronomical (translation: anything near or north of €10 million). Ten Hag and Utrecht will be hoping that day won't come anytime soon. Haller, though, knows when it's time to say goodbye he'll leave on good terms. As brief as his stay may prove to be, it won't be forgotten.

Should Haller leave Utrecht or stay and continue his development in Holland? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below