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Who is Florian Grillitsch and how would he fit in at West Ham?

By George Grieve

GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - MARCH 07: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Florian Grillitsch of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Veltins-Arena on March 7, 2020 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Max Maiwald/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - MARCH 07: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Florian Grillitsch of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Veltins-Arena on March 7, 2020 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Max Maiwald/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /
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Florian Grillitcsh is a versatile Austrian midfielder who plays for TSG Hoffenheim. He has previously been linked with Tottenham Hotspur and could be great for West Ham.

Due to the aging of Mark Noble, West Ham need to look for a younger, pacier, more cultured midfielder who can partner Declan Rice and/or Tomas Soucek in the heart of midfield. It’s clear that in the Summer they need at least 2 more midfield additions and with Soucek looking likely to join the Hammers for around £13 million after his loan expires, Grillitsch could prove to be another useful midfield signing.

The 24-year-old was born in Neunkirchen, Austria and stayed in Austria for his youth career, playing for both SVSF Pottschach and St. Pölten. Then, at the age of 17, he joined Werder Bremen, managing to break into the first team by 2015 at the age of just 19.

His debut for the Bremen first team occurred in a DFB Pokal game against Würzburger Kickers. Grillitsch immediately showed the depth of his passing ability and assisted Anthony Ujah to make it 1-0 to Bremen.

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Over the next two seasons Grillitsch went on to make 48 appearances for Die Grün-Weißen in the heart of midfield and when his contract ran out in 2017  he moved for free to TSG Hoffenheim due to the innovation of young Hoffenheim Director of Football Alexander Rosen.

At Hoffenheim, he became one of Julian Nagelsmann’s projects as Grillitsch was immediately moved into a deeper role due to his technical nous. This meant that the Austrian could have a greater influence on the game as he had more of the pitch to pass into (which is his strength).

Grillistch shone in midfield alongside Kerem Demerbay in the 2018/19 season, they formed a great partnership, using their passing ability to often beat the first wave of opposition pressure. He has gone on to form a partnership with Centre Back Kevin Vogt this season (due to a change in midfield personnel and tactical changes) as the two play clever one-twos drawing in the advancing attackers before working the ball into the space between the lines.

Nagelsmann has since left the club but Grillistch still assumes this deeper role under Alfred Schreuder to utilize his immense vision and passing range. Grillitsch is a key member of Hoffenheim’s side as shown by the Director of Football, Alexander Rosen’s praise for him:

"“Florian is an exceptionally gifted footballer, who excellently interprets the strategically and technically challenging position in the central midfield, not least through his playful solutions under pressure in confined spaces, over and over again we manage to overplay our opponent’s pressing and our offensive power .”"

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Therefore, it’s clear that Grillitsch is a top talent, with a high ceiling who could make West Ham tick again. As an incredible distributer, Grillitsch could form an excellent partnership with Declan Rice while connecting the defense and attack more astutely than Mark Noble or Tomas Soucek. For the tune of around £25 million, Florian Grillitsch would be a fantastic signing that could lead West Ham to a top-half finish next season.

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