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Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nTim Steidten is not exactly a popular figure at West Ham United, but the club\u2019s former technical director might yet give his standing in East London a bit of a boost.<\/strong><\/p>\n While his two-year stay in East London was not entirely devoid of successes \u2013 Steidten signed off on Crysencio Summerville, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mohammed Kudus \u2013 it is fair to say he is remembered best for those high-profile misses.<\/p>\n See Niclas Fullkrug, Max Kilman, James Ward-Prowse and Luis Guilherme; four players brought in to West Ham United for around \u00a3120 million.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcdd \ud83d\udcb0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n Add Edson Alvarez to that list, and you would not get much change out of \u00a3160 million. <\/p>\n Yet, the man who lured the Mexican to West Ham in the first place may yet be responsible for his departure.<\/p>\n In May, Steidten returned to the Bundesliga with FC Koln.<\/p>\n The former Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen chief works as the director of squad planning and recruitment in the Cathedral City. So as Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg reports that Alvarez is \u2018open\u2019 to joining Koln, this would be a deal with Steidten\u2019s fingerprints all over it.<\/p>\n According to Cologne-based publication Express, Steidten still has a good relationship with the Mexico captain. <\/p>\n As Alvarez himself told the official West Ham website back in 2023, it was a phone call from Steidten which convinced the one-time Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich target to swap his red and white Ajax shirt for a claret and blue one. <\/p>\n \u201cI had a few options,\u201d Alvarez said. \u201cBut when Tim called me and explained what West Ham means, it was very easy to choose because the city, Premier League. West Ham is a beautiful and big team with big supporters.\u201d<\/p>\n If the reports are true and Alvarez really is open to the idea of joining a Koln side who finished just three points above the relegation play-offs last season, it won\u2019t be the midfielder\u2019s interest in Gothic architecture or the views of the Rhine which twist Alvarez\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n Things are expected to speed up following Mexico\u2019s exit from the 2026 World Cup on Monday morning. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still a West Ham player,\u201d Alvarez told reporters before that thrilling 3-2 defeat by England at the Azteca. \u201cNow I\u2019m focused on the national team, but I must report (to West Ham for pre-season training after the tournament).\u201d<\/p>\n Tell us below \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n If Koln can find a way to finance a deal that would test the depths of their wallet, Alvarez might not be back in East London for long.<\/p>\n Alvarez allegedly earns around \u00a3100,000-a-week at West Ham. Koln may be relying on him taking a pay cut, plus the likely \u00a317 million sale of the all-action Jakub Kaminski to Brighton or Benfica, in order to make what initially looked a highly-improbable deal even more possible.<\/p>\n Steidten was pictured alongside Alvarez in a private jet chartered for the English capital after travelling to Ajax for face-to-face talks in 2023. <\/p>\n One wonders how long it will be before he is dusting off his passport again and returning to London.<\/p>\nTake a look at West Ham\u2019s ins and outs this summer \u2013 What deal stands out most to you?<\/h3>\n
Tim Steidten\u2019s Koln could end Edson Alvarez\u2019s West Ham United frustration<\/h2>\n
![\"Edson](\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2248165426-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/div>Alvarez keen to leave the Hammers after Mexico\u2019s World Cup exit<\/h2>\n
If you could pick ONE signing to kick off the Nils Koppen era, who are you choosing?<\/h3>\n