Major Twist as Sullivan Ally Drops £25.4m Transfer Claim, Increasing Pressure on Steidten
Tim Steidten Has Fallen Short of Expectations as West Ham United’s Director of Football Since His Appointment in July 2023.
West Ham recruited Tim Steidten from Bayer Leverkusen 18 months ago following his impressive track record in the Bundesliga.
However, his tenure at the London Stadium has been far from convincing.
Steidten’s performance has come under scrutiny, with rumors suggesting he could soon exit the club, much like Julen Lopetegui.
Frankly, I wouldn’t be opposed to this. Many of his signings have been disappointing—most notably Konstantinos Mavropanos and Niclas Fullkrug.
Despite his reputation as the “pearl-diver,” his acquisitions so far have been either well-known names or players past their prime.
Reports suggest Steidten has also become unpopular behind the scenes at West Ham.
With recruitment expert Kyle Macaulay set to join Graham Potter at the club—after West Ham agreed to pay Chelsea compensation—it feels like a good time to move on from Steidten.
The pressure on him has only increased with news of a recent failed transfer.
Steidten’s Struggles Amplify Amid Transfer Missteps
At present, Steidten is under intense scrutiny at West Ham. In my view, his only successful signing has been Mohammed Kudus.
But let’s be honest—Kudus was hardly an unknown talent when Steidten brought him in.
One of the more perplexing deals under Steidten’s leadership has been the signing of Luis Guilherme.
According to Sean Whetstone’s social media updates, the Brazilian winger is now expected to stay at West Ham this month, despite initial claims that he might be sold for £15 million.
Reports now suggest the club is hoping for a higher fee, believing Saudi clubs might pay a premium for the teenager.
Guilherme joined West Ham from Palmeiras in the summer for a hefty £25 million. This move now looks like a major misstep.
Luis Guilherme: A Misguided Investment?
When West Ham spent £25 million on Luis Guilherme, fans believed they were securing a future star.
However, the 18-year-old has only managed 50 minutes of first-team action this season and has looked out of his depth on the pitch.
The most frustrating aspect of the Guilherme deal is the allocation of resources. The £25 million spent on him could have been better utilized elsewhere.
For example, West Ham desperately needed a young, pacey striker—money that could have been added to their offer for Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.
Alternatively, they could have pursued a dynamic, ball-carrying midfielder like Youssouf Fofana.
Steidten’s Tenure: A Failure?
In my opinion, Steidten has failed in his role as West Ham’s director of football. His inability to identify and secure impactful signings has hindered the club’s progress.
The deal to sign Luis Guilherme alone is enough to warrant serious questions about his future at the club.
At the very least, he deserves a demotion. However, I believe it’s time for West Ham to part ways with him entirely and start afresh.
With new recruitment leadership on the horizon, this could be the perfect moment to chart a new path and leave Steidten’s underwhelming era behind.
