There is seldom a recruitment specialist in world football with a truly unblemished record, and that is certainly the case when it comes to the West Ham United-linked Middlesbrough chief Kieran Scott.
While the Hammers confirmed on Wednesday that Nuno Espirito Santo will be staying on at the London Stadium, changes are expected behind the scenes following their relegation out of the Premier League.
A director of football/technical director should arrive at the London Stadium in order to fill a role left empty by the departures of first Tim Steidten and then Kyle Macaulay.
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Bournemouth chief Thiago Pinto was linked back in May. The latest reports, though, claim that Kieran Scott is now in West Ham United’s sights.
According to talkSPORT, Middlesbrough’s head of football has been identified by a club ‘planning a boardroom restructure’.
The reaction from the Riverside, meanwhile, is pretty mixed. So too is Scott’s record, in truth.
Middlesbrough fans react to West Ham United’s Kieran Scott interest
Appointed in September 2021, Scott was the mastermind behind bargain deals for Emmanuel Latte Lath, Finn Azaz, Rav van den Berg and current England international and Europa League winner Morgan Rogers.
Boro reached the play-offs for the second time in four seasons in 2025/26, too; Aidan Morris, Luke Ayling, Morgan Whittaker, Tommy Conway, and Matt Targett all joining on Scott’s watch, in addition to their extremely highly-regarded head coach Kim Hellberg.
No wonder the Northern Echo are insisting that Middlesbrough ‘must keep Kieran Scott’ at the Riverside.
“Jesus Christ, could this end of season get any worse?,” one concerned Boro fan writes on X in response to those West Ham links.
“Yes, some signings haven’t worked like made the club a tonne of money from Latte Lath, Rogers, Azaz, Van den Berg etc. The club is moving in a positive direction at the moment, so to lose him would be a blow.”
Middlesbrough made a combined profit of around £50 million by selling those four players.
As West Ham look to move towards a model prioritising young, hungry talent with considerable re-sale potential – see Mateus Fernandes and El Hadji Malick Diouf – Scott’s ability to spot diamonds in the rough is a major factor in their interest.
“Are we all forgetting the unreal signings he’s actually got over the line?” another fan writes in response to the recent criticism coming Scott’s way after the play-off final defeat to Hull City.
“Morris, [Callum] Brittain, Latte Lath, Morgan Rogers, [Adilson] Malanda; There’s been some stinkers, for sure, but more than enough credit in the bank.”
“He’s been excellent overall, and he got us Hellberg.”
“Some people need to be careful what they wish for, I think. It’s a tricky job and despite January [Scott missed a disappointing winter window after undergoing surgery], I think he’s done well overall.”
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Middlesbrough's Kieran Scott has been linked…
Some Boro fans are not convinced by Scott
While Rogers, Azaz and Latte Lath proved to be exceptional value for money, the same cannot be said of Matthew Hoppe, Kelechi Iheanacho, Kaly Sene, Delano Burgzorg, Sontje Hanson and David Strelec.
West Ham’s poor record when recruiting centre-forwards is well-documented, and this is something Scott also appears to have struggled with in the North East.
Strelec and Sene arrived last summer for a combined £8 million, yet scored only nine times in 58 games between them.
“I feel he’s done well but, in the grand scheme of things, we’re no further forward, so maybe it’s time to explore a fresh perspective,” a more critical Middlesbrough supporter writes. “I’d be happy for him to stay if he’s fully committed though.
“He certainly has an eye for a big player and knows how to turn a profit. However, squad building isn’t something he’s achieved yet,” another says. “I’m not saying I want him to go but I don’t necessarily believe it would be a disaster.”
“If the last 15 signings are anything to go by, he’s got about a five to 10 per cent hit rate! So, good luck to him and West Ham!”
“I think Kieran Scott’s time is coming to a close, there’s many a director of football out there who’ve achieved a lot more than him who we could attract.”
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