Ever since Tim Steidten was dismissed from his position as technical director, West Ham’s Chair David Sullivan has reportedly been ‘considering’ the appointment of a replacement or ‘Director Of Football’ at the club. The issue would seem largely one of negotiating power for new players: At present, head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay is a numbers and stats man who helps identify the best candidates for Potters’ squad but is not a big hitter as far as dealing with other clubs and winning negotiations.
Mind you, Steidten had his failings in that department too, which the dubious acquisitions of Niclas Fullkrug and Luis Guilherme at vastly inflated figures suggesting that his expertise might not have been all that it was cracked up to be.
Most recently, we have speculated on the reuniting of Graham Potter with his former Sporting Director at Brighton Dan Ashworth: Ashworth left his most recent position at Manchester United in December and has since been ‘available’.
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The West Ham hierarchy were recently suggested to be happy to leave things as they were rather than rock the boat as the Hammers’ leadership was in a ‘happy place just now’.
However a new report just today suggest that Ashworth is indeed destined for West Ham: footballinsider247.com claim in their ‘exclusive’ that: “West Ham work on Dan Ashworth deal after Kyle Macaulay latest”, elaborating with:” West Ham are working on a deal to appoint ex-Man United and Newcastle recruitment chief Dan Ashworth…The Irons are searching for a new sporting director following the departure of Tim Steiden earlier this year. They are interested in an ambitious move for Ashworth – who made his name at West Brom, Brighton and with the FA.”
A successful reunion of Potter and Dan Ashworth could pay dividends for West Ham United
Were it true, that would be an exciting development for the future – negotiations for player purchases would be firmly in Ashworth’s hands. The duo could themselves create a wonderful new golden era at West Ham.
Is Chairman David Sullivan (main pic) ready to step away, though. That is the question. Having put his faith in Steidten who failed to deliver, it might be just too early for West Ham’s chairman to step back and leave Ashworth and Potter along with Macaulay to run the club without him.
No doubts as to Ashworth’s ability , though, being the Director who negotiated the deals for, amongst others, Romelu Lukaku to West Brom, Moises Caicedo to Brighton along with Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak at Newcastle.