Bizarre juxtaposition from Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten after West Ham transfer U-turn

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Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten have both been very busy men at West Ham United this summer.

West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui and director of football Tim Steidten have been working in tandem to get the squad up to scratch ahead of the new season.

The Hammers have already made six new signings this summer, and are thought to be plotting a move for Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka as well.

Meanwhile, Lopetegui and Steidten are trying to trim the fat from the squad, with Kurt Zouma the latest man to be linked with an exit from the London Stadium.

Whether you were David Moyes in, or out, what cannot be denied is the fact that Lopetegui’s arrival earlier this summer has coincided with a more ruthless and efficient approach to the transfer market.

There is still just over three weeks remaining before the transfer window slams shut – plenty of time for West Ham to get another couple of deals over the line.

However, it’s a deal that we’ve already completed that is under the microscope today.

The manner that it came about leaves a big question unanswered in my opinion.

Bizarre juxtaposition from Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten

One signing the Hammers completed this summer was made with bizarre thinking behind it, as far as I’m concerned.

And that is in no way diminishing the ability of the player in question.

So, West Ham confirmed the signing of Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund on Monday, on a four-year deal.

Steidten admitted after the deal to sign the 31-year-old was confirmed that he wanted him because he’s a proven striker with great experience.

Firstly, let me make this very clear – I’m very happy indeed with the signing of the Germany international.

I have no doubts that he’ll end up being a fine addition for us, and play a crucial role in getting us back to where we want to be as a club.

However, something has happened here that many fans seem to be missing.

I’m not quite sure how Steidten and Lopetegui settled on a move for Fullkrug, if Jhon Duran was indeed their priority striker target.

The Colombia international was the Hammers’ number one transfer target this summer, and we nearly signed him for £32 million before we eventually switched attention to the German ace.

Here’s my problem with that – the two strikers could not be more different regarding their respective playing styles.

Duran likes to use his blistering pace to get in behind whilst Fullkrug is more of a target man type striker – one who doesn’t possess any kind of speed.

That leads me to believe that Lopetegui doesn’t have a set way of playing in mind.

Does the Spaniard want to play with a focal point through the middle, and with his wingers whipping in crosses at the first opporunity?

Or does he want his striker to stretch the opposition by making runs into the channels so that more space is created for his players to play an intricate passing style?

You would think it would be the former because Fullkrug was signed in the end, but the juxtaposition to the 31-year-old from Duran concerns me somewhat.

I’m just not sure that Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten were totally set on the system they wanted to implement at West Ham.

Now with Fullkrug at the club, there will be only one way that West Ham can play. However, that could all change of course, if the Hammers sign Duran as well before the transfer window closes.