West Ham sporting director Tim Steidten has been told to stay away from the club’s training ground by under-fire boss Julen Lopetegui, according to a report.
The German’s relationship with the Hammers boss has reportedly deteriorated amid the side’s dismal form, which has seen them fall to within just seven points of the relegation zone in 14th place.
West Ham have won only one of their past five Premier League games, a run that includes a 4-1 defeat by Manchester City and 5-0 defeat by Liverpool in their most recent fixtures.
Steidten was also asked not to enter the training ground and the dressing room towards the end of the tenure of Lopetegui’s predecessor, David Moyes, due to him speaking to potential replacements for the former Man United boss.
According to The Telegraph, West Ham have put Steidten’s absence from the training ground down to his work in this month’s transfer window. The former Bayer Leverkusen employee has faced criticism from some quarters for the near £150million recruitment drive he led in the summer.
Mail Sport columnist Sami Mokbel revealed in October that the £25m signing of Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme raised eyebrows internally.
The 18-year-old has just four substitute appearances so far this season.
It is understood Guilherme – a signing led by Steidten – has failed to make a sufficient impact on Lopetegui, who fears the youngster is some way from being able to make a regular contribution at senior level – a worrying dynamic given the sizeable outlay.There are similar apprehensions about Niclas Fullkrug, whose £27m arrival from Borussia Dortmund is not proving value for money.
Meanwhile, Crysensio Summerville, signed from Leeds for an initial £25m, has scored only one Premier League goal in 19 appearances this term.
The decision to let James Ward-Prowse, a seasoned Premier League campaigner, join Nottingham Forest another questionable transfer decision.
Steidten was appointed by West Ham in the summer of 2023 and has operated out of an office at the club’s training ground and the London Stadium. The development comes as Lopetegui faces his second fight to save his job in a matter of months.
The Spaniard was nearly dismissed after defeat by Leicester in December.
The Hammers hierarchy held discussions after the loss and gave given serious consideration to dispensing with their head coach after just seven months in charge.
Crucially, it was reported that influential figures at the London Stadium had lost faith in Lopetegui and believed his appointment was a mistake.
Graham Potter and Edin Terzic were among the managers in the running to succeed him. Kasper Hjulmand and Sergio Conceicao, who has since joined AC Milan, also had supporters at boardroom level.
The appointment of a new boss with Premier League experience could be a factor as the Hammers decide their priority target should Lopetegui leave, which could work in Potter’s favour.
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