Reporter close to David Sullivan makes Tim Steidten long game claim as David Moyes fate looks sealed
A reporter close to David Sullivan has made a Tim Steidten long game claim as the fate of David Moyes looks sealed.
It was not so long ago David Moyes was under intense pressure to keep his job as West Ham boss.
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The Scot has admitted he was twice on the brink with the Hammers last season.
But Moyes summoned all his experience to help West Ham secure Premier League safety before writing his name in the club’s history books by leading the Hammers to a first major trophy in 43 years.
That did not stop speculation he might be replaced this summer. Even after co-owner David Sullivan publicly announced Moyes would be staying ‘if he wants to’.
Technical director’s arrival has muddied the water over Moyes’ position and future
Since then West Ham have appointed Tim Steidten as technical director with overarching responsibility for recruitment and transfers.
It was a move driven by Sullivan in a bid to improve West Ham’s transfer business.
But Steidten’s arrival has muddied the water over Moyes’ position – particularly beyond this season, the last of his current contract.
Many believed this summer would have made for an ideal parting of the ways for West Ham and Moyes.
The Hammers had the second worst possession statistics in the entire Premier League last season. And some West Ham fans want to see a different approach in a league now filled with Pep Guardiola disciples in the dugouts.
Reporter close to David Sullivan makes Tim Steidten long game claim as David Moyes fate looks sealed
If West Ham’s scattergun approach to the summer window is anything to go by, the mix of Moyes and Steidten is already jarring.
On one hand West Ham are being linked with older and/or established players such as Harry Maguire, Joao Palhinha, Scott McTominay and Harvey Barnes. Players a club does not need a highly paid and highly rated technical director to unearth. Especially one with the nickname ‘the pearl diver’.
Meanwhile there are links to players Steidten has reportedly recommended including Denis Zakaria, Jonathan Tah and Habib Diallo.
Now a reporter close to Sullivan has made a Steidten long game claim as Moyes’ fate looks sealed.
Hugh Southon believes Steidten’s appointment could see the German help West Ham replace Moyes with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso next summer – when both their contracts expire.
‘Appointment could bring with it the long-term strategy for replacing Moyes’
West Ham were heavily linked with Alonso recently – as reported here on Hammers News.
But Southon thinks Steidten could eventually turn to his former club for a reunion with Alonso, the man he helped bring to Leverkusen.
“The appointment of Tim Steidten as director of football could bring with it the long-term strategy for the replacement of David Moyes when his contract comes to an end next summer,” Southon reports on Claret and Hugh.
“Steidten helped appoint Xabi Alonso as manager of Bayern Leverkusen in the summer of 2022, and that contract expires next summer at the same time as David Moyes contract…
“At 41 years of age, the Spanish manager could be the ideal young replacement for Moyes, who turned 60 this year.”