Tim Steidten pulls off masterclass with Hammers nearing top target

Ever since joining the Hammers as technical director last year, Tim Steidten has made a lot of smart deals for West Ham despite the underwhelming on pitch performance in the 2023/24 Premier League season. One of the biggest examples of Steidten's shrewd business came when Ajax signed Manchester City academy talent, Carlos Borges away from West Ham at the last hour.

However, the German had the last laugh securing Ajax's top two star players, Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez for a combined transfer fee of just £72 million knowing Ajax needed to raise funds. Now, West Ham need to bolster their defence and the right-back position remains a top priority for the Hammers. And it looks like Steidten is again pulling off a masterclass to land a new right-back.

Tim Steidten pulls off masterclass with Hammers nearing top target

In recent seasons, Manchester United are known for delaying transfer business to the very closing of transfer window. They paid £100 million for Antony on the last day of 2022 transfer window and last year, they didn't paid the unpaid wages to Harry Maguire that saw West Ham couldn't able to land the defender despite agreeing a £30 million transfer fee with the Red Devils.

This can again be the case with Erik Ten Hag's side taking too long to sell £15 million Aaron Wan-Bissaka to the Hammers. From West Ham's point of view, they need to close this deal quickly as a new striker and a new centre-back are priorities along with a new right-back.

Thus, Tim Steidten has decided to explore the possibility of signing Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui. Mazraoui is on Manchester United's transfer wishlist as well, so the Red Devils won't want to miss out on the signing of the Moroccan defender who thrived under current United manager, Erik Ten Hag at Ajax.

Hence, United will be looking to act quickly to sell Wan-Bissaka to West Ham to bring in Mazraoui. And as reported by transfer journalist, Florian Plettenberg, that is currently the situation with Manchester United lowering their demand to just £10 million for the English right-back. Plettenberg said,

"Aaron Wan-Bissaka, a key for a possible deal with Noussair Mazraoui – for Manchester United and West Ham.
Man Utd seriously considering to replace Wan-Bissaka with Mazroaui. Therefore they have lowered their demand for AWB and demand £10m now! West Ham considering to push for Wan-Bissaka if a transfer with Mazraoui should not work out."

- Florian Plettenberg

Thus, one thing is sure by the end of the week, there are high chances that West Ham will have a new right-back whether that is Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui or Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka.