An Interesting development with far reaching consequences when the bigger picture at London Stadium is assessed. West Ham’s recruitment team to be boosted as ‘Graham Potter to be re-united with key recruitment ally Kyle Macaulay” -as reported by Matt Law today.
The exclusive carried by the The Telegraph confirms that “the Scot has worked with Potter at four clubs previously and will help guide transfer business at the London Stadium”. Which to me sounds very much like a step nearer the door for technical director Tim Steidten, who is pretty close to finding himself ‘director without portfolio’ at West Ham.
Macaulay is, I believe, one of the new breed of data-driven recruitment analysts: In past roles, Potter has asked Macaulay to draw up shortlists and provide suitability reports on possible signings.
Which will be great but – too late do help in the January window, wouldn’t you think?
After creating the oldest Premier League squad, with the record worst number of shipped goals ever recorded in the Premier League in 2024, a defence that can’t defend and a midfield that cannot run at a cost of £140 million, it has seemed for months that Steidten’s star was on the wane at West Ham.
In fairness of course Steidten identified Jhon Duran and sought to go after him before being thwarted. We may never know whose final decision at the club it was to walk away from Duran at £35 million but Fullkrug’s recruitment as an alternative was definitely another Steidten cock-up. Luis Guilherme’s £25 million purchase when viewed alongside Fullkrug’s shows just how big the spend on players who’ve contributed nothing: As a club source confirmed yesterday it is only Crysencio Summerville, from the ten players signed join the summer, who has yet delivered on his price.
