Tim Steidten can quickly win West Ham United hearts with move for Leicester City forward Harvey Barnes
West Ham United are set to announce the appointment of Tim Steidten as the club’s new technical director in the coming days and the German can wow fans already by signing Harvey Barnes.
Steidten, 44, is out of work after leaving Leverkusen in March, just under four years after he joined from Weder Bremen to head the scouting department before being promoted role last July.
With Moyes confirmed to be staying on as manager next season, the Hammers are looking to aid his quest to rebuild the squad at London Stadium by hiring Steidten as technical director which is close to being announced officially by West Ham [Sky Sports, 29 July].
According to The Guardian reporting on 14 June, Moyes gave his blessing to Steidten’s appointment after the German made a positive impression after meetings this week, and given his record and reputation at previous jobs West Ham United are certainly for a testing but exciting summer of transfer business to reshape and revamp an ailing squad, especially with Declan Rice now all but set to complete his big-money move to Arsenal.
Replacing Rice’s midfield quality is an absolutely tough ask, and with plenty of the West Ham United faithful massively intrigued by how the squad may shape up post-Rice, the Hammers’ new recruitment chief is certainly under pressure to find ways to successfully evolve this squad and ensure that the club are back where they belong in the Premier League next season.
And one area alongside replacing the England international in desperate need of addressing is in attack, with the likes of Michail Antonio, Gianluca Scamacca and potentially another player set to leave the London Stadium.
That alone will be a huge rebuild job for Moyes and Steidten to stick their teeth into but it seems as though the German can claim an impressive start as technical director with one Premier League-proven winger a top West Ham United target.
According to The Telegraph journalist Matt Law [26 June], the Hammers are in pole position to land Leicester City winger Barnes and given his proven quality in the English top-flight, readiness the take the next step in his career and the Irons’ desperation to bolster their attacking weaponry right now, Steidten can certainly win West Ham United hearts already with this signing.
Barnes is definitely set to attract plenty of interest this summer given his apparent and stark attacking qualities from the left-flank and it’s easy to see why Tottenham and Newcastle have also been linked with his services.
However, West Ham United being named as the club in “pole position” to land him sounds incredibly promising but that does not guarantee anything. The Irons must simply move fast to secure their number one attacking target.
If the Hammers are to fire on all cylinders next season, they desperately need attacking options and Barnes is the best available candidate to drive them forward both domestically and in Europe – which may prove a tempting incentive for him to consider.
The winger, previously hailed as “unbelievable” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, scored 13 goals in 34 top-flight appearances from the left wing and also ranks in the top 10% across Europe’s big five leagues for goals, shots on target and goals per shot amongst wingers, meaning he isn’t afraid to get shots off and certainly knows where the goal is.
West Ham United need goals from all avenues if they are to compete amongst the elite once again and signing Barnes is the best way to kick off their lofty ambitions under their exciting new behind-the-scenes appointment at the London Stadium.
Harvey Barnes has long been one of the most favoured British attackers of many neutrals across the Premier League, and signing him could well hand Steidten the platform and edge he needs to build a sustainable and impressive West Ham United squad ready to challenge on all fronts next season.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are already preparing to cash in on the Declan Rice money as they hold a transfer meeting in London as they’re confident of sealing a £50million signing.