West Ham United: Tim Steidten ‘backed to the hilt’ by David Sullivan as multiple appointments made to transfer team
Tim Steidten is being “backed to the hilt” at West Ham as his influence has now seen multiple appointments made to the transfer operation at the London Stadium, according to Claret & Hugh.
The Hammers outlet reported via their website on 21 January that the technical director, who only arrived in the summer, is now “Mr Big” behind the scenes and effectively operating as chairman David Sullivan’s second in command.
Incoming head of technical scouting and analysis Maximilian Hahn was “entirely” Steidten’s choice and the board “immediately” backed the recommendation, with a source claiming that various other experts have been added at his request to support his activities in the market.
They said: “We are signing staff to help Tim all the time. We have signed a few that’s he’s picked.”
And the German’s revolution at West Ham is also now tipped to see his own brother Moritz added to the scouting department, with Tim now viewed to have been an “extraordinary signing” to the backroom set up.
Keys to the operation
Clearly Steidten has impressed the right members of the hierarchy in a short space of time, and if he is getting all of his own people waved through there can’t be much doubt over who is in charge of day-to-day matters.
What that means for David Moyes, who has been reported to be at loggerheads with the summer arrival more than once, remains to be seen.
If Steidten and his team can follow up with more signings in the mould of Mohammed Kudus, who the German played a key role in bringing over from Ajax during the previous window, it should be a positive step for the club.
But with Moyes known to favour more experienced targets who have played in the Premier League before, and one striker option having apparently already gone begging this month thanks to disagreements behind the scenes, it could remain an issue.
The manager was largely believed to be on his way out at the end of the season when his contract expired, and was said to have no chance of winning a power struggle at West Ham with Steidten.
It certainly looks like the technical director could hardly be more secure in his role, but with recent developments suggesting that Moyes is now set to sign an extension the direction of the club feels like it is aiming in two different directions at once.
In other West Ham news, a Premier League club has responded to a January bid from the London Stadium as the Irons look to bring in much-needed new firepower.
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