West Ham will announce talent spotter who discovered Man Utd and Arsenal transfer target as technical director on Friday
WEST HAM will announce Tim Steidten as their new technical director on Friday.
The 44-year-old will officially begin work in East London on July 1, ahead of what will prove to be a busy transfer window.
Steidten has held several meetings with the likes of manager David Moyes and owner David Sullivan with the club desperate to improve their recruitment policy.
The last of those came this week after months of negotiations.
The Hammers spent around £160m last summer on eight signings with varying success, including the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Nayef Aguerd, Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet.
Sporting director Mark Noble and Moyes will remain involved in incomings, but it will now be led solely by Steidten, ready to offer his unique expertise in building for the future at the London Stadium.
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The current head of recruitment Rob Newman, responsible for last year’s influx of players, will see his role diluted as a result.
Steidten left his role at Bayer Leverkusen in March and has previously been linked with roles at Chelsea and Tottenham.
His work is primarily data-led, following in the footsteps of the likes of Brentford and Brighton, a model that Moyes in the past has had high praise for.
At Leverkusen, Steidten was instrumental in discovering young talent such as Manchester United and Arsenal target Moussa Diaby and Jeremie Frimpong, as well as being involved in the hiring of boss Xabi Alonso.
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The German – a midfielder in his playing days – will be put straight to work following an intense week of negotiations in the departure of skipper Declan Rice.
West Ham will be on the look-out for a new midfield replacements, as well as options at right-back and up front with the use of the money from Rice's move.
Fulham’s Joao Palhinha, Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips have all been linked so far this summer.
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