Speculation has been rife regarding a big West Ham transfer deal that is causing something of a backlash against the club’s technical director.
Just over a month ago West Ham technical director Tim Steidten was being hailed as a hero.
The German already had his own terrace chant after bringing Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez to the London Stadium last summer.
The addition of another nine top players for over £155m this summer only cemented a reputation forged in helping shape the Bayer Leverkusen that has been taking Germany and Europe by storm.
Hammers fans were overjoyed at seeing top drawer stars such as Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Crysencio Summerville sign for the club.
Results and performances have been massively underwhelming so far, though.
And it perhaps says everything about the fickle nature of the modern game that Steidten has been taking much of the flak.
In many ways it is the price on the ticket now the technical director is front and centre as heading up West Ham’s football operation.
Whetstone says sources staying tight-lipped on transfer claims
Being a high-profile figure in and around the first team and even doing interviews on matchdays puts Steidten out there to be shot at.
And many West Ham fans haven’t hesitated to pull the trigger.
For some Steidten has become a scapegoat of sorts.
But it was Steidten’s decision in one key area over the summer that has left some supporters questioning him.
One of West Ham’s big summer signings was £23.5m striker Niclas Fullkrug.
The Hammers simply had to go out and get a top forward in the summer. The German became striker signing number 53 since 2010.
However, some West Ham fans questioned the signing of Fullkrug given his age, a distinct lack of pace and injury record.
Unfortunately, due another addition to the latter, Fullkrug has missed his fifth game already through injury. And there are no guarantees he’ll be back for Spurs after the international break.
Hammers ‘bid hard’ for Duran but Villa wanted £60m
The situation, which has left West Ham relying on 34-year-old busted flush Michail Antonio up front yet again, has only reinforced fan opinion that the club should have signed a younger, more dynamic striker.
West Ham have passed up golden chances to sign Julian Alvarez for £14.5m, Viktor Gyokeres for £17.5m and allegedly Jhon Duran for £43m in the last few years.
While West Ham continue to toil with 34-year-old Michail Antonio up front, Duran has been smashing it with Villa.
Every time Duran scores or shines – which is every game at the moment – West Ham fans can be heard asking the same question – ‘why didn’t we just pay the extra £5m’.
That of course refers to the alleged gap in valuation which saw West Ham ditch the move for Duran and turn their attentions to Fullkrug.
Duran piled yet more pressure on Steidten with stunning goal against Bayern Munich in midweek.
There has been claim and counter claim about the deal.
Last week the top source close to the owners exclusively told Hammers News that Steidten decided to split his striker budget on two signings – £20m Luis Guilherme and Fullkrug – rather than spend it all on Duran.
Time will tell whether that is the huge mistake it looks right now.
It has since emerged that Villa wanted a much higher fee – said to be at least £60m – which made the deal a complete no-go for the Hammers.
Time will tell whether Steidten made right calls
Now Sean Whetstone says sources are staying tight-lipped on big claims about the West Ham move.
Whetstone counts David Sullivan and Karren Brady among his contacts.
And his sources insist the Hammers ‘bid hard’ to make the Duran deal happen.
“West Ham club sources are saying tight lipped on the exact amount they bid to Aston Villa for Jhon Duran this summer but confirm they ‘bid hard’ despite limited funds available,” Whetstone said.
“Initially it was reported that West Ham had a bid £35m rejected, £5m under Villa’s supposed valuation but last week Fabrizio Romano who is rumoured to have links to Tim Steidten claimed the bid amount was actually £43m plus a sell on clause which was rejected.
“Villa sources separately claim that their club’s valuation was £60m including add-ons together with a sell on cause and buy back clause. The 20-year-old Villa striker who posted a video of himself in the summer with crossed Hammers has scored 6 goals this season from 9 appearances including the winner in the Champions League against Bayer Munich.”
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