West Ham sources share huge exit updates on Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten. West Ham sources have denied that Julen Lopetegui has already been sacked, according to Simon Stone.
The BBC journalist reported on 6 January that the Hammers are yet to make a decision about the future of the Spaniard. While it is understood that Tim Steidten is no longer working at the club’s training ground, it is not because he is on his way out [talkSPORT, 6 January], but to allow him to work on bringing in new players in January.
Stone wrote in the BBC on 6 January: “West Ham are considering whether to sack Julen Lopetegui following Saturday’s heavy defeat at Manchester City.
“Hammers sources have denied Lopetegui has already been dismissed but accept the former Real Madrid and Spain coach is under huge pressure.
“West Ham’s technical director Tim Steidten has been pictured talking to former Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter, who has previously been linked with the Hammers job.
“The photograph has been circulated on social media. Sources have said it is a recent picture but this has not been independently verified.
“Club officials have privately confirmed Steidten is no longer working out of the club’s training ground, in a move that has echoes of the split between Moyes and the former Bayer Leverkusen technical director towards the end of last season.
“West Ham sources said that decision is to allow Steidten to work on transfer targets for the current window.”
Tim Steidten is not bringing an overly calm presence to West Ham
Steidten had very public fall-outs with David Moyes last season and does not seem to be seeing eye to eye with Lopetegui either.
While the Spaniard isn’t doing well and arguably deserves the sack, Steidten was at the club when he was hired.
If the technical director cannot work in tandem with the manager, there are questions to be asked of him as well.
While recruitment under the German has not been awful, certain players have been signed for a lot more money than they should have and there still are positions in the playing eleven that must be strengthened.
Hopefully, whoever the man to replace Lopetegui is someone that Steidten can get along well with otherwise the owners may think of getting a new technical director as well.
West Ham flag at London Stadium [Credit: Imago]
He’s got to be the facilitator and the calming influence behind the scenes and not really make the headlines all the time.
In other West Ham news, a manager Jurgen Klopp called “Unbelievable” has a “Big Lobby” to take over the reins at the London Stadium.
