Steidten to become West Ham hero as exciting Burkardt transfer news emerges
Tim Steidten has received a lot of flak for his transfer business at West Ham United, but can become an instant hero with one signing in January.
The technical director is under immense pressure at the London Stadium as the Irons find themselves 14th in the Premier League despite spending over £100million in the summer [TBR Football].
Pundits and fans have grilled the German over some of his signings, with the £27m acquisition of Niclas Fullkrug raising eyebrows.
Like underfire head coach Julen Lopetegui, Steidten is feeling the heat in East London and desperately needs to do something to regain his reputation.
Tim Steidten can turn things around at West Ham with Jonathan Burkardt
Steidten only needs one blockbuster signing to change people’s minds about him at West Ham and he might do exactly that in the January transfer window.
With Fullkrug yet to reach full fitness and Michail Antonio facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after his road traffic accident, signing a new striker has emerged as a priority for the Hammers ahead of January.
Lopetegui’s side have been linked with a host of centre-forward, but one name stands out.
TBR Football reported on Tuesday [10 December] that Steidten wants to sign Mainz’s Jonathan Burkardt at West Ham.
At first glance, the German’s decision to focus on the 24-year-old ahead of Brighton’s Evan Ferguson and Corinthians’s 31-goal hitman Yuri Alberto may not sound convincing.
However, he is confident that Burkardt can have an instant impact on English soil after impressing for Mainz.
The two-time Germany international is the third-top scorer in the Bundesliga with 10 goals to his name from 13 appearances.
With all three of West Ham’s senior strikers on the wrong side of 30, Burkardt might be the perfect injection of young blood Lopetegui needs to lead his line.
Ferguson may command a sum of around £60m, while it is unclear if Alberto can post numbers similar to the ones he is hitting in Brazil in the Premier League, making Burkardt a much more sensible option.
In other West Ham news, an Irons source has provided the latest update on new David Moyes developments at the London Stadium.
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