West Ham are on the hunt for a new director of football – and one of the best around has suddenly and surprisingly left the Premier League’s standard-bearers Brighton.
When it comes to transfers, recruitment and sales, few – if any – clubs have a worse record than West Ham down the years.
And when it comes to that key factor of any successful football club, none do it better than Brighton and Hove Albion.
So it would make sense if West Ham, a markedly bigger club than the Seagulls, went after some of their top minds in a bid to revolutionise the way the Hammers operate.
Are West Ham eyeing appointment of Brighton brain Ayto?
Now a surprising and sudden development raises a big question in east London.
Are West Ham eyeing a masterstroke appointment by luring a top Brighton brain to the London Stadium?
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The Hammers have been heavily linked with a move to poach Kieran Scott from Championship rivals Middlesbrough.
Although it has since been claimed those rumours are agent-driven on Scott’s side rather than West Ham.
It comes as the club loses highly-regarded talent spotter Max Hahn from their recruitment team after two-and-a-half years with the Hammers.
Hahn was brought in by former West Ham technical director Tim Steidten, who was sacked last year.
West Ham chief David Sullivan replaced Steidten as the club’s de facto director of football.
That was before Kyle Macaulay was brought in from Chelsea as head of recruitment, lasting little over a year as he departed along with close friend Graham Potter.
West Ham must pounce after Ayto’s sudden departure from Brighton
There is going to be a big shake-up at West Ham this summer following the departure of Karren Brady, Tara Warren, Hahn and several others.
Karim Virani has come in as Brady’s replacement and has impressed the board and fans alike so far.
The club has confirmed manager Nuno Espirito Santo is staying.
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It has also been reported Nuno will have a big say on who the club appoint as director of football.
Now could West Ham be looking to finally learn from the likes of Brighton by bringing in their departing sporting director Jason Ayto?
In a brief, sudden and surprising statement, Brighton confirmed Ayto was leaving the club after less than a year in the role at the Amex.
Ayto worked at Arsenal for more than a decade in a variety of technical roles before joining Brighton.
Brighton chairman Tony Bloom and deputy chairman Paul Barber both waxed lyrical about Ayto despite his short-lived spell on the coast.
The Argus reports that Ayto’s sudden and unexpected departure was down to different ideas on the process of player recruitment.
Any modern and forward-thinking ideas on that score would be welcome at West Ham.
Could Ayto be the man to finally bring the Hammers kicking and screaming into the 21st Century of top-level football recruitment and behaviours?
West Ham’s owners could certainly do a lot worse than luring the man who has just left the gold standard bearers in that area.
Here’s what Brighton’s top men had to say about Ayto.
Chairman Tony Bloom said: “I’d like to thank Jason for everything he has done for us, and to wish him well for the future.”
Chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber said: “Jason has been a valued team colleague on our strategic leadership group.
“I’d like to thank him for his contribution since he joined the club and wish him all the best going forward.”
Hopefully Ayto will be ‘going forward’ with West Ham to help the club rebuild ready for a return to the Premier League at the first attempt.
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