Tim Steidten the secret weapon to take West Ham player – Way in via agent

Tim Steidten could be Cologne’s secret weapon as they aim to sign Edson Alvarez from West Ham United this summer.

BILD report on the 28-year-old West Ham midfielder today and Cologne’s attempts to sign the Mexican.

Cologne transfer effort

The newspaper explains that Cologne are courting the Mexico captain this summer. But any move for the midfielder is likely to be a tough ask for them.

Even though they have money in the bank, boosted with €20m from Jakub Kaminski’s move to Benfica, the transfer is seen as a difficult one for them to get done.

Edson Alvarez still has a deal with West Ham until 2028, is valued at €15m and earns a ‘top salary’ at the London Stadium. Sport Witness have covered reports explaining that he wants to leave.

The German club have a potential secret weapon in the form of director of football Tim Steidten.

He brought Alvarez to West Ham in 2023 while serving as the Hammers’ sporting director. Thus, knows the Mexican well and has the ‘necessary contacts’ to make a deal happen. He also has a foot in the door with the player and his agents.

What do West Ham want?

The question is whether West Ham are willing to do their former director any favours when it comes to the midfielder.

They’ve already brought in big money for Mateus Fernandes this summer, so are no longer as desperate for money as they might have been. On the flip side, his big wage packet will be considered unsustainable in the Championship.

Perhaps that is something Steidten intends to use to his advantage. He will, in all likelihood, try and secure a loan move. That will perhaps include an option or an obligation to buy under certain conditions.

Either way, it appears that he intends to use his contacts at West Ham and with Alvarez’s agents to try and make a complicated deal happen.