There is major uncertainty at West Ham after the club revealed Arsenal want technical director Tim Steidten and with Julen Lopetegui on the brink.
It seems there’s never a dull moment with West Ham and that’s certainly been the case of late.
A season that promised much for the Hammers and Arsenal threatens to deliver little.
That has already resulted in big changes at the Gunners and word of more to follow at West Ham.
West Ham’s owners recently revealed they fear Arsenal want Tim Steidten.
The Hammers hierarchy said the Gunners want Steidten to replace their own departing sporting director Edu.
The Telegraph repeated the story three days later.
Some eyebrows were raised at the West Ham man’s link to title-chasing Premier League rivals Arsenal.
But the former Bayer Leverkusen sporting director has been a coveted figure over the last couple of years.
Before he joined West Ham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs wanted him.
Since his arrival at the London Stadium, Newcastle, Liverpool again and now Arsenal have been linked.
It says everything about the fickle nature of modern football that Steidten has gone from a Hammers hero to a divisive figure in just a few short months. Quite literally given the first three months of the campaign have been punctuated by three separate two-week international breaks.
It’s not been lost on many that Arsenal have been linked with a summer move to trigger Mohammed Kudus’ release clause at the same time they’re rumoured to want the man who brought the star boy to West Ham in the first place.
That was for a bargain £38.5m – when other clubs including the Gunners, Chelsea and Brighton were also keen. Arsenal would have to pay £85m to trigger Kudus’ release clause in July.
Steidten has faced criticism for West Ham’s struggles under Julen Lopetegui this season.
Just like Edu had been criticised over Arsenal’s failure to address areas of weakness in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Steidten was hailed for having ‘won the summer transfer window’ for West Ham by overseeing nine signings to the tune of £155m.
Tarnished Steidten’s future decided as Arsenal hone in
Some of those arrivals are yet to prove their worth thus far, though, and Lopetegui is said to be ‘on the brink’ at West Ham.
To make matters worse for Steidten, Lopetegui even turned on him at the weekend.
Lopetegui said he can’t implement his style at West Ham with the players he’s been given.
Despite the links to Arsenal, it’s been claimed the Hammers are still very keen to keep Steidten.
Indeed reports have abound that he is set to meet with West Ham majority owner David Sullivan to decide Lopetegui’s future and how long he will be given to turn things around.
With Newcastle away next followed by Arsenal at home, things look bleak for the Spaniard.
Now it looks like there’s been a decisive development in the situation.
Tarnished Steidten’s future looks to have been decided as Arsenal hone in and it’s the Lopetegui call next at West Ham.
It was revealed Arsenal were looking at other names as well as Steidten to replace Edu.
But talk of former Gunners stars Tomas Rosicky and Per Mertesacker being ahead of Steidten have amounted to nothing.
Steidten’s future does now look decided, though, as Arsenal whittle their Edu replacement shortlist down to two.
It’s the big Lopetegui sack call next at West Ham
Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.
The Times are suggesting he could now replace Edu as it came in the same week Arsenal officials are meeting in America to discuss the search for the departing Brazilian’s successor.
Arsenal’s other candidate is said to be Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro according to Sky in Italy reporter Gianluca Di Marzio.
Scuro, 43, joined Monaco last summer and helped build a side which finished as Ligue 1 runners-up to reach the Champions League.
It is claimed the Brazilian, who previously worked for Red Bull, is a “tough negotiator” with “human relations, sense of belonging and organisation” the three key concepts of his football philosophy.
So it appears Steidten won’t be joining Arsenal and is very much staying at West Ham. For now at least.
Now it’s the big Lopetegui call next – which Steidten will have a major say in.
Speculation has been rife the 57-year-old may be sacked before West Ham’s trip to Newcastle.
But Hammers owners have briefed David Ornstein that they ‘hope and expect’ performances and results to change.
With the in-form Magpies and Arsenal up next, that’s highly unlikely.
So many feel keeping Lopetegui now is merely delaying the inevitable.
If the former Wolves boss suffers chastening defeats in those games, there’s no lack of irony that Arsenal could be the match which sees West Ham wield the axe.
With Steidten now staying, it seems there would be a clear preference on his part to bring in Edin Terzic.
Especially after out of work former Hammers coach Terzic turned down Roma this week.
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