West Ham appear to be closing in on a new Director of Football.
According to Football Insider, the club is in talks with Manchester City’s Rob Newman, who is the International Scouting and Recruitment Manager at the Etihad Stadium.
After the disastrous appointment of Mario Husillos in 2018, the club has seemingly been taking its time in finding his replacement, with David Moyes taking charge of the recruitment side of things, to good effect!
Husillos was solely responsible for the arrivals of Carlos Sanchez, Lucas Perez, Roberto and Albian Ajeti, with the other signings made during his time supposedly the work of either David Sullivan or Manuel Pellegrini. His only true success during his 18-month spell has been Pablo Fornals, who is currently one of Moyes’ key players.
So it’s no surprise Sullivan may have been reluctant to relinquish control on transfer dealings again, although it does seem a new appointment is imminent.
Football Insider claim Moyes has given the green light to Newman, 57, coming in as his Director of Football and that while negotiations seem to have been successful, a deal has not yet been finalised.
Newman has been at Man City since 2008, the same year Sheikh Mansour bought the Etihad club and turned them into one of Europe’s super clubs. Since then, City have dominated domestically and signed some of the world’s best players in the process.
It remains to be seen which City signings over the years came as a result of Newman’s scouting work but, given he’s been in the same role for the entire time City have been mega-rich, it wouldn’t be unfair to assume he’s played a key role in their recruitment success during that period.
So this appears to be a very positive and exciting appointment for West Ham, following decades of transfer deals that have often been more miss than hit in east London.
But West Ham fans have taken to Twitter to react to the news with some tongue in cheek responses, many pointing out that fact the club desperately needs to appoint players instead, while others have also questioned whether the club would even be prepared to pay for any players Newman goes on to scout…
Would be great! I assume this is why we’re slow on transfers? 🤔
— whufcopinions (@whufcopinions) July 7, 2021
He won’t be cheap… I thought we were insolvent. Somebody, somewhere is telling porkies.#GSBOUT
— West Ham Wesley ⚒️ #GSBOUT (@CouchPotatoUK) July 7, 2021
Well, he’s in for a culture shock haha!!
— The O’baldy (@norfy72) July 7, 2021
Can he play left back
— 父 Dylan 父 (@Dylbec) July 7, 2021
Can he lead the line?
— Neil (@neilgallowglas) July 7, 2021
That would be a good signing 👏
— Lee Taylor (@Lee_Taylor_69) July 7, 2021
Makes sense half way through an important transfer window.
— 6moore (@6moore_) July 7, 2021
Best signing we could make!
— Adam (@ADAMArchitectUK) July 7, 2021
