West Ham United have officially responded to claims that their technical director, Tim Steidten, is discontented with his role at the club.
The speculation, originally reported by The Sun, suggests that Steidten is frustrated at being “overruled on key decisions” at the London Stadium, including the choice of manager.
Following a much-needed home victory in the Premier League, West Ham fans had hoped that a corner had been turned.
The 4-1 win against Ipswich Town marked the first home success of the season under manager Julen Lopetegui. Yet, despite the positive result, the press continues to highlight tensions behind the scenes.
The Sun’s Matt Hughes was the first to break the story that Steidten has grown increasingly unhappy with his situation, particularly due to missed transfer targets and the selection of Lopetegui as manager.
The report suggests Steidten favoured a younger, more modern coach, and was left disappointed when his input was disregarded.
The summer transfer window saw the club invest heavily, spending £155 million on nine new signings.
However, The Sun claims that many of Steidten’s preferred choices were overlooked. One such example is Aston Villa’s in-form striker Jhon Duran, who has impressed with his performances this season.
Steidten is also said to have been keen on bringing in Lille’s forward Jonathan David, but the club’s board refused to meet the asking price.
Instead, West Ham secured the services of Niclas Fullkrug, a 31-year-old German forward, in a £23.5 million deal. The signing raised a few eyebrows due to Fullkrug’s history of injuries and his lack of pace.
These concerns have been exacerbated by Fullkrug’s recent absence, having missed the last five matches due to injury. His availability for the upcoming fixture against Spurs, after the international break, remains uncertain.
The Sun further reports that Steidten had prepared a shortlist of managerial candidates to replace David Moyes before Lopetegui was appointed.
Among the names on that list were Brighton’s new boss Fabian Hurzeler and three Portuguese coaches: Sergio Conceicao, Ruben Amorim, and Paulo Fonseca.
The report claims Steidten was particularly keen on Hurzeler, a fellow countryman who has made a promising start at Brighton.
Despite his success, West Ham’s board, led by co-owner David Sullivan, decided that Hurzeler’s relative inexperience—he is just 31 years old—was too much of a gamble for the club.
Seeking clarification on these claims, Hammers News reached out to a senior spokesperson at West Ham, who is closely connected with the club’s hierarchy.
The spokesperson firmly denied that Steidten was unhappy or that there was any conflict surrounding the choice of manager.
“That is simply not true,” the spokesperson told Hammers News exclusively.
“The Brighton manager is a huge gamble, though he did well yesterday! We all decided to play it safe and with experience, particularly experience in the Premier League with Julen.”
The spokesperson also addressed the upcoming international break and its potential impact on the team’s momentum following the win against Ipswich Town.
“We just hope they all come back fit and well,” the insider added.
“Spurs away will be tough, but we are unbeaten away.”
While The Sun’s report on Steidten’s dissatisfaction has been dismissed, there are elements that align with the reality at West Ham.
Notably, Lopetegui’s position is secure, with no indication that his role is under any immediate threat.
Furthermore, the relationship between Lopetegui and Steidten remains amicable—a stark contrast to the tension that reportedly existed between Steidten and David Moyes during the latter’s final days at the club.
Moyes famously banned Steidten from interacting with the first team after reports of a meeting with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim became public.
For now, West Ham appears to be united in its approach, though the shadow of past managerial conflicts still looms. The next few weeks could prove crucial as the team looks to build on its recent victory and establish a more positive narrative.