With David Moyes gone, unconstrained West Ham technical director Tim Steidten must be involved in an exciting Youssouf Fofana update.
Things turned pretty ugly between Tim Steidten and David Moyes by the end of the latter’s West Ham tenure.
Moyes banned West Ham’s technical director from being around the first team as relations turned sour.
That was a result of Steidten merely doing his job by lining up potential replacements for the Scot if he was to leave the club.
In the end Moyes was let go and Steidten has since declared he is only just getting started now he finally has full control at West Ham.
That starts this summer with the appointment of Julen Lopetegui and the German now overseeing a major squad rebuild.
Brazilian teenage sensation Luis Guilherme is the first arrival in that process. Another six or seven are expected to follow this summer.
The freedom to get deals done for the players he wants means Steidten is now unconstrained.
Unlike he was in the last two windows working alongside Moyes.
Steidten now unconstrained by Moyes at West Ham
Steidten almost walked just a month into his job last summer when it was confirmed to Hammers News by the top source inside the club that the technical director was ‘finding the manager hard work’.
Moyes was resisting Steidten’s targets – just as he did again in January when insisting on signing walking disaster Kalvin Phillips.
One of the players Steidten was desperate to bring to West Ham last summer was Youssouf Fofana.
The Monaco midfield star was available and Steidten had a deal lined up for the Hammers.
The prospect of signing Fofana excited West Ham fans.
But Moyes was not enthused by the idea, insisting he told Steidten that a different profile of player was needed in the Premier League than Germany.
While Moyes was chasing Scott McTominay and James Ward-Prowse, Steidten wanted Monaco and France ace Fofana.
But according to the likes of The Guardian and a host of other outlets at the time, Moyes vetoed the move – causing tensions with Steidten.
Now with Moyes gone West Ham must be involved after an exciting new Fofana update.
With Moyes gone Steidten must be involved in Fofana update
Tuttomercatoweb recently claimed West Ham were back in the race to sign the 25-year-old France international this summer.
The problem is Paris Saint-Germain were also said to be seriously interested.
Fofana recently stated his desire to leave Monaco this summer and reports claim he is available for just £17m – a figure which perfectly fits West Ham’s summer budget.
Now Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on the Fofana situation. And the path looks to be clearing for Steidten to finally get his man.
The transfer reporter says Fofana is now expected to leave Monaco. But the good news for West Ham is that PSG are not in for him.
Better still Romano states Premier League clubs are monitoring the star.
“Youssouf Fofana, expected to leave AS Monaco but currently not on Paris Saint-Germain shortlist,” Romano said.
“PSG are looking at different kind of players in that position, based on Luis Enrique’s requests.
“Premier League clubs keep monitoring him.”
At £17m Fofana is perfect for West Ham
Now he is not being held back or vetoed by Moyes in the transfer market, West Ham must be in the mix for Fofana.
Fofana got four goals and four assists for Monaco in 31 games last season.
But his contribution to the team goes far behind those statistics.
Because Fofana plays as a box-to-box midfielder primarily with defensive duties. The 6ft 1in star boasts great strength, stamina and the ability to press opponents to win possession.
He ended the season with an excellent average match rating of over 7/10.
Fofana was man of the match on three occasions and helped Monaco finished second in Ligue 1 behind PSG.
You can check him out in action in the video below.