Earlier this year Tim Steidten’s stock was so high at West Ham he was being coveted by the likes of Newcastle and Liverpool.
Tim Steidten arrived at West Ham last summer after he’d left Bayer Leverkusen a few months prior.
The Hammers’ technical director has gone from hero to villain and back again in the space of 18 months.
Now, with his job reportedly potentially in the balance just months after taking full control from David Moyes, the German has found an unlikely ally in the shape of the manager of West Ham’s next opponents Newcastle.
After bringing Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez to east London last summer, Steidten was lauded.
Hammers fans even have their own terrace chant for the man nicknamed ‘the pearl diver’.
The relief was palpable among fans when Liverpool brought back Michael Edwards and appointed Richard Hughes after he was linked with a switch to Anfield.
Particularly as Steidten had publicly flirted with joining Liverpool when the rumours emerged.
No sooner had West Ham seen off that threat than the world’s richest club Newcastle entered the fray.
The Magpies were looking to hire a new sporting director to replace the outgoing Dan Ashworth.
At the time The Telegraph claimed Steidten was high on their wish list.
Steidten under pressure at West Ham after £155m splurge
Given the Saudi PIF financial muscle behind Newcastle, West Ham were understandably concerned about losing Steidten.
In the end he remained at the London Stadium, though, declaring his ‘euphoria’ at having full control and stating he saw West Ham as a five-year project.
Newcastle brought in Paul Mitchell instead. A move which has since made headlines surrounding the relationship between Eddie Howe and former Monaco man Mitchell.
The jury is very much out on whether Steidten will see out the three and half years that remain of that timeframe.
Word around the club is Steidten is just as much under pressure as manager Julen Lopetegui.
Steidten’s summer business was widely praised as he brought in nine players for £155m.
The likes of Max Kilman, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Crynsecio Summerville have looked like quality additions.
But the rest have struggled to convince, including hot and cold big money signing Jean-Clair Todibo.
A journalist recently claimed two deals in particular have angered West Ham’s owners – the £20m acquisition of little known Brazilian teen Luis Guilherme and the £23.5m spent on aging, injury-prone striker Niclas Fullkrug.
Especially since Fullkrug made just three cameo sub appearances before being crocked for three months and counting.
Supporters and the press have been laying into Steidten’s recruitment.
But Howe completely disagrees with critics of West Ham technical director Steidten.
Howe completely disagrees with critics of Hammers chief Steidten
West Ham head to St James’s Park to take on Howe’s in-form Magpies on Monday night.
A heavy defeat could reportedly spell the end for Lopetegui at West Ham.
But according to a report from The Guardian, Steidten’s future is just as much under the spotlight.
Howe has a starkly contrasting view to many of the press and supporters, saying Steidten has done a good job.
The Newcastle boss simply believes Steidten’s signings need time to bed in and adjust.
“This is a totally different game (to the 4-3 comeback win in March), different manager of course at West Ham,” Howe said in his pre-West Ham press conference.
“I think they’ve recruited well in the summer so it’s going to be a challenging game for us.
“We’re keen to keep our momentum, three big wins before the break, and we’re desperate to keep that run going…
“I think West Ham are a very good team and I think they’ve got a very good manager.
“And I think if you look at their recruitment in the summer, I think there’s always a bedding in period for new players. I think they’re going through that period now.
“But I’ve got no doubt about the quality of the players they’ve signed. I think this is a tough game for us…
“They’re a team full of very good players. Again going back to their recruitment in the summer, they recruited well, I think they’ve got a good squad. They’ve got some really dangerous players, especially in the front line.
“Obviously interesting watching Jarrod Bowen recently score for England, he’s always a goal threat. They’ve got some attacking players that, as I’ve said, we respect.”
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