West Ham director of football target named as squad planning specialist

The German had arrived with big billing as the brains behind Bayer Leverkusen’s stunning rise.

But Steidten has taken a large share of the blame for West Ham’s demise since his arrival in the summer of 2023.

West Ham line up another German to replace Steidten

Particularly when it comes to how he oversaw a whopping £155m spend on 10 players in what was his first and only transfer window in full control of West Ham’s transfers.

Ex Chelsea scout Kyle Macaulay was brought in as a replacement of sorts when Graham Potter was appointed but he was a glorified chief scout.

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West Ham have flitted between director of football models, with the likes of Mario Husillos and Steidten, to head of recruitments in Rob Newman and Macaulay.

In between co-owner David Sullivan has reprised his role as West Ham’s de facto director of football, overseeing agent-led deals.

Sullivan occupying that role has drawn criticism from Hammers supporters who have long called for specialist professionals to be appointed to such positions if the club are going to ever truly progress – or at this rate merely keep up – on and off the pitch.

Much smaller clubs like Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton have put West Ham to shame in recent years.

Each were playing in either the second or third tier when Sullivan arrived at West Ham 16-and-a-half years ago.

After Steidten was sacked, West Ham initially said they had no plans to replace him.

Hammers want specialist squad planner Wagner for revolution

But there appeared to have been a change of heart amid demands from fans to appoint proper professionals to roles of such significance.

In a summit meeting with the club’s Fan Advisory Board before her sudden departure, Karren Brady revealed the club will replace Sullivan to return to the director of football model.

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And it seems the club has another German in their sights.

Because a West Ham director of football target has been named as squad planning specialist Paul Wagner.

The 27-year-old is said to be highly regarded by West Ham and many Bundesliga clubs according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Dennis Bayer.

Wagner is known for his specialism in squad planning, something West Ham have sorely lacked in recent years.

He is an expert in data scouting and is on leave ahead of his expected departure from Dresden when his contract expires in the summer.

Although Wagner was head of recruitment at Dynamo Dresden when they got promoted back to Bundesliga 2 from the German third tier.

But the club’s performance when there will hardly have West Ham fans excited for the future as they currently sit 13th in Bundesliga 2.

Wagner would have some job on his hands at West Ham.

After announcing club record £104m losses, West Ham are expected to post further big losses in excess of £80m in their next accounts.

Add to that the fact the Hammers owe £196m to other clubs in transfer instalments and Wagner would have to do some serious wheeling and dealing to rebuild the squad.

What division that will be in will be dictated by the next two games as West Ham face the final fight for their Premier League lives against Newcastle and Leeds.