Trying to cut through the fog of West Ham’s summer recruitment, it’s clear that somebody, somewhere, got something right.
With credit for transfers being passed around like a game of pass the parcel, it’s increasingly difficult to know who actually deserves praise. If you strip everything back, though, one name keeps emerging: Max Hahn — the club’s scout/data analyst who reports directly to David Sullivan.
Hahn is highly regarded at West Ham, and not a transfer goes through without him giving his opinion. Sources both inside and outside the club have made it clear he is an influential figure. The problem? It’s still unclear which signings he is truly responsible for.
Meanwhile, former head of recruitment — and Graham Potter’s trusted right-hand man — Kyle Macaulay seems to have been stripped of all credit in hindsight. Convenient, isn’t it? Suddenly Macaulay appears useless and Sullivan is painted as the mastermind behind the window. The retroactive narrative feels a bit too neat.
Mystery surrounds who Kyle MaCaulay signed
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Whoever Did It, They Got It Right
Why does this matter? Because last summer’s business looks — whisper it — good.
Mateus Fernandes, Soungoutou Magassa and El Hadji Malick Diouf have all been excellent additions. At ages 20 and 21, these signings are distinctly un-West Ham-like — progressive, sellable assets who have arguably already increased in value.
Which presents the puzzle…
I’m confident Sullivan spearheaded the signings of Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters, but putting those aside, who identified the younger players?
It was either Hahn or Macaulay.
If it was Macaulay, it’s bad news long term — because it would mean West Ham paid Chelsea £1m in compensation only to let him stroll straight into the arms of Manchester United after getting everything right.
If it was Hahn, though, then maybe West Ham do stand a chance of unearthing the young striker they desperately need to escape relegation.
Time will tell — but if more 21-year-olds continue arriving at the London Stadium, we’ll have our answer.