A brainbox scout who is impressing with his work at West Ham has made a left-field pick for the club’s all-important striker signing in January.
Tim Steidten may not have done too much good during his 18 months as West Ham’s technical director, but he left the club with something of a gem.
Six months after Steidten arrived at the London Stadium in 2023, he made his first appointment to the recruitment staff at West Ham.
Max Hahn was brought to West Ham by Steidten in February 2024, joining as Head of Technical Recruitment and Analysis.
Hahn is active on social media, often giving a clue to his influence on transfers when he reposts West Ham’s announcements of certain signings.
Steidten left West Ham with a hidden gem in scout Hahn
The highly-rated recruitment specialist has impressed so much at West Ham he was retained after Steidten was sacked.
Since then several German sides, including Schalke, have looked at Hahn as someone who could step into a Sporting Director role while Championship clubs Southampton and Blackburn Rovers have also been credited with an interest.
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Word is that Hahn played a key role in the identification of El Hadji Malick Diouf and Soungoutou Magassa in the summer while he also pushed for the signing of brilliant midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
But anyone working in recruitment at West Ham will not have proved themselves until they finally get the right striker into the club.
Niclas Fullkrug will leave the Hammers in January as the club’s latest in a long line of striker flops.
Since David Sullivan arrived at West Ham in 2010, a total of 57 strikers have been signed.
Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images
Most have failed to work out with slow, immobile, injury-prone and ill-fitting Fullkrug being a prime example.
A move back to Germany or Italy is on the cards for the Germany international.
West Ham’s focus is on finally getting it right in the striker stakes in January, not least because their Premier League lives depend on it.
Now the brainbox West Ham scout has sprung a surprise by picking Swansea star Zan Vipotnik as his choice for a January striker signing.
West Ham’s board confirmed who is calling the shots on transfers heading into the January transfer window.
Brainbox West Ham scout picks Vipotnik as striker signing
One of the biggest things to come from that Hammers News conversation with the top spokesman for the club’s owners is that Hahn will very much have his input alongside the manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
West Ham have been linked with a host of forwards including Joshua Zirkzee, Promise David, Ivan Toney and several Brazilians.
But Vipotnik is a new name on the list, right out of left-field – at least to the untrained football mind perhaps.
Hammers News understands the 23-year-old Slovenian is the name Hahn and the recruitment team have put forward as their pick for the striker position in January.
Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images
That same information is also being reported by insiders on longstanding West Ham news site KUMB.
Vipotnik managed just seven goals in 44 appearances for Swansea in his debut season last term.
But he has nine in half that number of games so far this season and is emerging as a striker of real promise.
The 6ft 1in star has a real striker’s instinct and smart movement in the box, getting himself into scoring positions quickly when chances arise.
Effective with both feet, Vipotnik is big and strong but not so bulky that it means he lacks mobility like Andy Carroll, Sebastien Haller and Fullkrug before him.
His involvement in build-up and link-play is improving, something that undoubtedly caught the eye of Hahn and his team.
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The Swansea star is capable of combining with teammates to create chances and could be the ideal foil to get Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville closer to goal.
Vipotnik’s ability to occupy centre-backs and bring others into play would help create space for the pacy and direct duo, making the Hammers’ attack much more dynamic and less predictable.
Key to everything good about the striker’s game, though, is his work rate and willingness to contribute across the pitch.
That would make him a hit with Hammers fans but would also suit Nuno’s tactical plan, offering both a goal threat and a physical focal point in transition phases.
This is one to watch with the January window now less than three weeks away.
Especially as Swansea already have little to play for in the second half of the season and may be tempted to cash in if the Hammers come knocking.
The fact Vipotnik is lesser known and playing in the Championship may leave some Hammers supporters underwhelmed.
But most of West Ham’s best signings have been plucked from the second tier down the years from Trevor Sinclair to Dean Ashton, Aaron Cresswell, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen.
Could Vipotnik be the next?
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