Technical director Tim Steidten has been speaking at a German football conference as some worrying news emerged back at West Ham.
In the eyes of many West Ham fans Tim Steidten is one of the best assets the club has.
His work at Bayer Leverkusen acts as evidence he is a man the Hammers should trust with full control of the football operation.
West Ham supporters have been so impressed with some of the German’s transfer dealings he was honoured with his own terrace chant.
But fan opinion has started to become more divided on Steidten.
Many do not like that Steidten is pitchside with the team and doing interviews.
And despite being widely regarded to have had one of the club’s best ever windows, West Ham cannot escape the sense of regret – and criticism – over their failed pursuit of Aston Villa’s young forward Jhon Duran in the summer.
Duran and Fullkrug situations see West Ham director criticised
That ship has well and truly sailed now with Duran signing a new deal at Villa.
Many supporters feel the striker department is the one key area that was not properly addressed in the summer.
The Hammers simply had to go out and get a top striker in the summer.
When the club gave up on trying to sign Duran, Steidten elected to spend £23.5m on compatriot Niclas Fullkrug instead.
Fullkrug became striker signing number 53 since David Sullivan arrived in east London in 2010.
Some West Ham fans questioned the wisdom of signing a 31-year-old striker. Especially as their current options Michail Antonio and Danny Ings are 34 and 32 respectively.
It means West Ham’s striker department has a combined age of 97.
Steidten defends big signing amid worrying West Ham claim
Concerns were not only raised over Fullkrug’s age, though. His lack of pace and injury record were also seen as red flags.
Many wanted to see the club go and sign a younger, more dynamic striker – like a Duran.
Now Steidten has defended the big summer signing amid a seriously worrying West Ham claim.
The man West Ham brought in to turn them from toothless to ruthless has missed the last five games and counting.
Fullkrug picked up an Achilles and calf injury during the September international break with Germany.
He has not been seen since for the Hammers, piling pressure on Steidten while the likes of Duran and another summer target Samu Omorodion shine.
Ahead of the Brentford game recently Hammers News exclusively revealed Fullkrug was out until after the October international break.
So it has proved – and there is no guarantee the Germany forward will be back for the Tottenham game either.
Fullkrug teased he might be back soon in a social media post this week.
Yesterday top West Ham sources could neither confirm or deny claims Fullkrug faces an extended spell out because he needs an operation.
If that bears any truth then it will pile even more pressure on Steidten for signing a player whose career has been dogged by injury.
‘This is the reason we signed Fullkrug’ says Hammers chief
Now Steidten has defended the Fullkrug signing, saying he was leader and character West Ham needed.
“You definitely need time to find yourself,” Steidten said at the STAHLWERK Doppelpass in Germany in regards to new West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui.
“We have also brought in nine new players, last game there were four in the starting XI. It took a certain amount of time (to integrate them), but of course you don’t have the time anymore.
“It all depends on what kind of characters you have, so this is the reason why we brought in not only a great player in Niclas but he can also solve a lot of things for you on and off the pitch.
“It’s also not just a question of quality. It’s about how you put the team together as far as personalities are concerned.”
Steidten was clearly aware some fans were questioning the signing of Fullkrug from the get go.
When unveiling the man he worked with at Werder Bremen, Steidten stated West Ham needed a specific type of striker who is ready to hit the ground running.
The technical director said Fullkrug was ready to go and is very much a striker for the here and now.
He also suggested Fullkrug’s style of play would be ideally suited to what West Ham need as they searched for someone to lead an attacking line full of diminutive, skilful, pacy talent.
Crucially too, Steidten highlighted Fullkrug’s character and mentality as key.
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