JULEN LOPETEGUI is under increasing pressure at West Ham after technical director Tim Steidten stepped back from the training ground.
Lopetegui and Steidten’s already tense relationship has deteriorated with the club frustrated with both figures.
It is not clear whether the Spanish boss will be in charge for the next Premier League game, at home to Fulham next Tuesday.
West Ham face Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Friday night before returning to Premier League action.
Furthermore, Steidten’s influence on the January market has been diluted as chairman David Sullivan takes a leading role in the transfer window.
Steidten, 45, was part of the process when West Ham were considering replacements for Lopetegui last month.
The Hammers chief was involved in discussions with Graham Potter as well as a number of other managers, though the East Londoners decided to give their manager a stay of execution.
Lopetegui’s position remains under scrutiny and conceding ten goals in the last two games has not helped his standing.
Steidten, appointed in 2023, has opted to steer clear of the Rush Green base to focus on the January window and allow Lopetegui the space to focus on the squad.
His role in sounding out replacements, as well as the club’s poor form, has led to a tense relationship between the pair.
TIM STEIDTEN is West Ham's Technical Director.
When he was appointed to the role in July 2023, this is how the club explained the position: “Steidten will be responsible for the Club’s overarching player recruitment strategy and scouting department, working closely with Manager David Moyes and Sporting Director Mark Noble.
“The Technical Director role has been implemented as part of the Club’s continued growth strategy and comes at a key moment in West Ham United’s history, with the Hammers’ victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League earlier this month securing a third successive season in European competition.”
The club were full of praise for Steidten after his arrival, saying: “One of the game’s most-admired football administrators, 44-year-old Steidten brings his own added experience of European football to East London, having previously fulfilled a similar role with Bayer 04 Leverkusen in his native Germany, at a time when the Hammers are enjoying a sustained period of success at both first team and Academy level.
“Arriving at Leverkusen from Werder Bremen in June 2019, Steidten was responsible for overseeing a pivotal period in the Club’s history, with his data-led approach to scouting yielding some immediate positive results in the transfer market, recruiting a number of unheralded gems, before nurturing them into highly-coveted stars.
“His arrival is set to complement the strong existing UEFA Europa Conference League winning squad on and off the pitch, with further significant experience and expertise.”
Joint-Chair David Sullivan said at the time of Steidten’s appointment: “Our goal when we became custodians of West Ham United and moved to London Stadium was to bring silverware to this incredible Club and to regularly compete in European football. We’ve enjoyed some fantastic times in recent seasons, and we aim to continue to grow and evolve across all areas of the Club. Tim’s appointment is key to our wider plans to drive our football strategy forward. We are delighted to welcome such a well-respected name in the game to the Club.”
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West Ham, under Steidten’s leadership, spent £127.5million, in the summer window but sit 14th in the Premier League with just six wins all season.
The German, who previously worked at Bayer Leverkusen, also had a poor relationship with former manager David Moyes.
Steidten was asked to stay away from the first team dressing room at the London Stadium towards the end of last season.
Asked about that decision at the time, Moyes said: “I’ve said before that Tim has his job to do but managers have their boundaries and I have my boundaries.”
West Ham are keen to be active in the January window following the loss of Michail Antonio for the season and Jarrod Bowen for six weeks.
The Hammers want to add a striker and central midfielder on loan.
Brighton’s Evan Ferguson has been considered but the Seagulls will wait until the end of the window to make a decision on whether or not to loan him out.
Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who almost moved to the London Stadium in the summer, is on their radar once more.
