West Ham technical director Tim Steidten could find it too difficult to turn down a job at Liverpool, according to an update from journalist Dean Jones.
The 44-year-old has been an influential figure at the London Stadium since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, working alongside David Moyes effectively.
Worryingly, Steidten has been linked with a move to Liverpool, however, following the departure of sporting director Jorg Schmadtke at the end of last month.
He is seen as someone who could work seamlessly with Xabi Alonso after their spell together at Leverkusen, assuming the Spaniard is the Reds’ choice to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager in the summer.
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones admitted that he could see Steidten departing for Liverpool, seeing it as too good an opportunity to say no to:
“Perhaps Moyes staying adds credence to why Steidten might be more likely to leave West Ham and go to Liverpool right now. But I think we also have to weigh in that Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs you could ever be involved in, and it is extremely difficult to say no to them if they do come knocking.
“I don’t know enough about Steidten and Alonso’s relationship. But from afar, you would see they’ve both worked at Leverkusen, understand a similar philosophy, and have been working from the same book. So, there are reasons to believe they can work together and might even be very open to it.”
Losing Steidten would be a clear blow for West Ham, considering the job he has done in his short time in east London to date, but it is easy to envisage him moving on.
The fact that he has worked with Alonso in the past could make the appeal of moving to Liverpool even greater, and he would be joining one of the biggest clubs in world football.
The fact that the update hints at Steidten and Moyes’ relationship no longer being too strong could also suggest that a move away is likely, so it could be best for all parties to ultimately make the deal go through, assuming the Hammers boss stays put for the foreseeable future.