West Ham technical director Tim Steidten looks ready to rip up his summer rebuild and go again if news around the club is anything to go by.
There’s no hiding the fact West Ham got the summer rebuild wrong.
As the man in full control of the football operation much of the blame falls on technical director Tim Steidten.
It wasn’t a complete disaster.
Of West Ham’s nine new arrivals, three have been great additions in the shape of Max Kilman, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Crysencio Summerville.
The jury is still out on defender Jean-Clair Todibo. But he has showed signs he can be a top class centre-back.
Those four players account for £111m of the £155m spend.
Unfortunately the rest of Steidten’s signing have offered little and the team looks old, slow and lacking in power, pace, quality, character and resilience.
Word has started to emerge that several players want out of West Ham already.
Major overhaul afoot at West Ham as Steidten goes again
Summer striker signing Niclas Fullkrug, free agent arrival Guido Rodriguez and last summer’s £35m addition Edson Alvarez could all push to leave in January.
There is talk Lucas Paqueta would welcome a return to Brazil if a deal can be struck over there too.
Make no mistake Julen Lopetegui must take his fair share of the blame.
The Spaniard has failed miserably to get a tune out of his team so far.
A team that already consisted of the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, Paqueta, Alvarez, Alphonse Areola and Emerson Palmieri.
They are quality players most Premier League teams would welcome into their sides let alone squads.
West Ham will have to wheel and deal somewhat if they want to make changes.
And it seems the man in charge has conceded he must do just that.
I know what you did last summer
A major overhaul is afoot at West Ham as Steidten goes again with six exciting stars in his sights.
The January transfer window is now just six weeks away.
Steidten promised to rebuild West Ham around young, exciting, versatile players.
That made complete sense because David Moyes left the club with the smallest and second oldest squad in the top flight.
But somehow Steidten’s summer overhaul has left the Hammers with the oldest squad in the Premier League bar none.
The Hammers have an average age of 28.4. The good news, though, is that Steidten seems ready to do something about it.
Because West Ham have suddenly been linked with a host of players fitting a younger, more dynamic profile.
Six exciting stars in West Ham’s sights after rebuild mistakes
The biggest areas of concern have been midfield and up front.
West Ham look stodgy in the centre of the pitch and it has showed in results.
They have a strike force with a combined age of nearly 98. Two of them are out of contract at the end of the season and many feel are no longer up to Premier League standards anyway.
Meanwhile Fullkrug is unsettled at West Ham and may leave in January.
If buyers can be found for the German, Rodriguez and Alvarez and £150k per week Paqueta can somehow be taken off West Ham’s hands then it will help clear some space on the wage bill and raise funds.
Planned replacements, according to rumours, would transform the entire look of the side.
Several targets are being lined up and it seems Steidten is holding his hands up about the error of his ways in the summer window.
That’s not to say West Ham will sign all six of course, but the club are clearly now looking to a completely different profile of player than the summer.
Javi Guerra, Valencia, £15m
One of the players being linked with a move to West Ham is Valencia’s Javi Guerra.
The 21-year-old Spaniard is a box-to-box midfielder with high energy and athleticism who can play in defensive midfield and attacking midfield.
Guerra is exactly the kind of dynamic, versatile kind of player Steidten had suggested he would be signing.
He has 56 La Liga appearances to his name for Valencia as well as five goals and an assist.
Graeme Bailey revealed West Ham have been watching Guerra closely and want to try and bring him in before he gets full international honours and his value – said to be around £20-25m – rockets.
Jobe Bellingham, Sunderland, £20m
According to several reports, the Hammers are genuinely interested in signing Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland.
The brother of England and Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham, has been coming of age for Sunderland in the Championship this season.
The 19-year-old has two goals and an assist in 12 games so far. But his brilliant average match rating of 7.3/10 speaks to how his all-round game has helped Sunderland assert a commanding early lead at the top of the table.
It’s been claimed West Ham want Bellingham mark two and are preparing a £20m move. Others are interested but a move to London and a chance to be a key cog in the rebuild at a big club could appeal.
A central midfield of Bellingham and Guerra would change West Ham from old, slow and immobile to young, tenacious, athletic and powerful. The duo lack experience but Tomas Soucek would be there to provide that.
Ibrahim Maza, Hertha, £8-15m
Carlos Soler is another addition that hasn’t worked thus far. He looks far too lightweight and has offered nothing as yet.
German journalist Florian Plettenberg, a close contact of Steidten, claims West Ham want to sign Hertha BSC’s Ibrahim Maza from the Bundesliga 2 club.
Plettenberg says numerous Premier League and Championship clubs are scouting the 18-year-old attacking midfielder but West Ham are among the biggest of the interested clubs.
Plettenberg says a departure seems likely although the Hammers may have to wait until the summer and his valuation is between £8-15m.
James McAtee, Man City, £15-20m
Journalist Alan Nixon revealed at the weekend that West Ham and Fulham want James McAtee from Man City.
The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg then added further credibility to the claim by doubling down on that news this week.
McAtee is an exciting midfielder in the Emile Smith Rowe mould. So that would count in West Ham’s favour as Fulham already have that very man in their ranks – and McAtee wants to play.
The 22-year-old enjoyed an impressive loan stint with Sheffield United over the last two years as he scored 14 goals and bagged eight assists in 75 appearances.
But he has played just one minute in the Premier League for Man City this season, despite their catalogue of injuries.
West Ham are said to want to take advantage. Man City may be open to a loan with option or obligation to buy in January, which would suit the Hammers down to the ground.
Igor Jesus, Botafogo, £20-25m
With Fullkrug proving a disaster, West Ham simply must – by hook or by crook – sign a new forward in January.
West Ham probably actually need to sign two new strikers. But they may get away with signing one in January to get through to the end of the season.
Earlier this month it was reported that the Hammers are eyeing a move for Botafogo striker Igor Jesus in January.
It has been claimed 23-year-old Brazil international Jesus could join the Hammers in a deal which might even see Paqueta traded to Botafogo.
Clauses could be built in around the outcome of the case against Paqueta – which should be heard in March.
Jesus only joined Botafogo earlier this year after a spell in Saudi Arabia. But club owner John Textor – who also owns crisis-hit Lyon – said he will raise money to pay down Lyon’s debt by selling players from Botafogo as well as the Ligue 1 side.
West Ham doing a loan deal for Jesus has been mooted with an option or obligation to buy at the end.
Tariq Lamptey, Brighton, nominal fee
Reports have emerged that West Ham want to sign rapid full-back Tariq Lamptey from Brighton in January.
Ex Chelsea graduate Lamptey is out of contract at the end of the season and will be available for a nominal fee.
The Ghana international can play right or left-back and at wing-back too.
The strategy is clearly that 24-year-old Lamptey would be used at left-back or left wingback with Wan-Bissaka on the right.
West Ham would have two of the quickest fullbacks in the top flight at good ages.
They would be interchangeable too, offering even more flexibility.
Reports claim Lamptey would welcome a return to London as he wants to stay in the Premier League.
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