Julen Lopetegui’s Tim Steidten comments raise questions amid bizarre West Ham sack claim. Julen Lopetegui’s comments about technical director Tim Steidten have raised big questions amid a bizarre West Ham sack claim.
Tim Steidten is currently facing the biggest test of his time at West Ham thus far. West Ham‘s recruitment chief must be one of the only technical directors in football with their own dedicated terrace chant.
‘Timmy Steidten’s magic’ can be heard ringing out on concourses during Hammers matchdays.
That’s after the German made such a big impression with his first two major signings of Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez when he arrived at the London Stadium last summer.
Steidten declared his euphoria at having full control of all things football at West Ham following the departure of David Moyes.
Steidten facing West Ham pressure for first time
But that attracts the glare of the spotlight and all the pressure and expectation that comes with it.
The heat is on Steidten at the moment after over three weeks without a new signing. The Hammers want eight new arrivals to transform Julen Lopetegui’s desperately short squad.
Three have been brought in so far. But of those, only Max Kilman is a guaranteed starter.
With less than three weeks until the new Premier League season starts and less than five until the transfer window closes, Steidten must now make a signing per week to give Lopetegui the full squad he desires.
This week Lopetegui’s Steidten comments have raised questions amid a bizarre West Ham sack claim.
Lopetegui’s Steidten comments raise West Ham questions
A number of deal collapses and reported targets moving elsewhere has seen fans question Steidten’s work this summer.
Rumours had abound that Steidten was literally here, there and everywhere working on deals for new signing.
Speculation then emerged that the technical director was in fact with the first team on their US tour. That left some Hammers supporters scratching their heads.
Many feel it is pointless Steidten being with the team when he needs to be working on bringing new players in as soon as possible.
So when Lopetegui confirmed Steidten is indeed with the team in Florida, it did not go down well with some fans.
“Tim is here with us and, of course, we talk every day a lot of times, but we have to put the focus on the players who are here as they are the most important players now, for sure,” Lopetegui said in the US.
“Of course, we’re going to need new players and I know the Club and Tim are working hard to have the players we need to come as soon as possible to start the season, but it’s about the players who are here and putting the focus on these players because we are working with them.”
Video footage has since emerged on social media showing Steidten with his mobile phone glued to his ear during the US tour. Hammers respond to bizarre sack claim
West Ham Zone suggested Steidten is ‘on thin ice’ with majority owner David Sullivan over the club’s window difficulties.
The report even states Steidten could be axed ‘if he lets Sullivan down again’. But Hammers News understands there is absolutely no substance to that suggestion.
There is no denying Steidten is facing pressure from some fans who are eager to see the board invest in improving the team.
But that pressure is not reflected internally. West Ham recently defended Steidten after the collapse of deals after he spent time in Brazil. The top spokesman inside West Ham said claims Steidten could be sacked were ‘rubbish’.
The coveted technical director does need to start getting some deals over the line soon. But it is far too soon to be pressing any panic buttons. And West Ham are not concerned, revealing today Steidten has six irons in the fire for West Ham.
