West Ham transfer chief Tim Steidten emerges as a leading candidate to become Liverpool sporting director… with the Hammers braced for an approach after the transfer window

West Ham are preparing to tackle Liverpool’s move to land highly-rated sporting director Tim Steidten after the January transfer window.

Premier League leaders are looking for a new sporting director after Jorg Schmadtke announced he will leave the club at the end of this week. The German is one of five high-profile departures at Anfield, including his close ally Jurgen Klopp and three coaches.

Liverpool have already seen former sporting director Michael Edwards turn down the chance to return to the club in a new role after Mike Gordon, president of owners Fenway Sports Group, floated the idea of ​​him taking on a senior role to provide oversight on the restructuring of the club. .

But West Ham’s Steidten has emerged as a leading candidate to fill the role of sporting director, alongside Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes. Mail Sport understands that no official approach has yet been taken as it would be poor etiquette in the final days of a transfer window.

However, the Hammers are primed for interest in their highly-touted transfer chief, who only joined the east London club in the summer but has been praised for replacing Declan Rice with a string of shrewd signings including James Ward-Prowse, Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez.

The Reds’ current sporting director, Jorg Schmadtke, will leave at the end of January

Schmadtke is one of five high-profile departures to leave Jurgen Klopp this summer

Steidten, 44, also worked at Bayer Leverkusen and was responsible for bringing top goalkeeper Xabi Alonso to the club as manager, plus a number of key players who led their Bundesliga title. At Werder Bremen he signed Kevin De Bruyne and Serge Gnabry, among others.

David Moyes and Steidten started off on the wrong foot, but have mended relations. Nevertheless, the sporting director believes he should have more control at the club and sources suggest he is not quite done yet.

The German was also keen to bring in his younger brother Moritz and another friend, Maximilian Hahn, as part of his West Ham scouting operation as he looks to give the London Stadium even more authority.

But West Ham are now concerned Steidten could leave if Liverpool call. He is said to be one name on a list of targets to replace Schmadtke in a new structure at Anfield, along with Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes and several others.

The former midfielder joined Bournemouth’s technical team under Eddie Howe after retiring and was later promoted to technical director. He has overseen a data-driven approach to the transfer window under impressive boss Andoni Iraola.

Steidten is credited with signing Mohammed Kudus for West Ham in the summer

David Moyes and Steidten started off on the wrong foot, but have mended relations

Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes is seen as another contender for the role of sporting director

Sources close to the Cherries insist Hughes is happy on the south coast and is fully committed to his job at the Vitality Stadium, but like Steidten it could be a tough offer to turn down if Liverpool were to come calling.

Liverpool’s glory era under Klopp came partly thanks to shrewd operations at transfer level from players like Edwards – the two working together rather than any hierarchy – and there is a strong feeling they will appoint a sporting director before pulling out all the stops for a new manager. .

Alonso, who has a relationship with Steidten, is touted as the early frontrunner. Liverpool’s recruitment process is led from Boston by FSG and they are keen to take their time with a data-driven approach to find the right man to succeed Klopp.