'It's an honour!' - Liverpool sporting director target speaks out on interest

West Ham United technical director Tim Steidten has revealed he has not been approached by Liverpool over their sporting director vacancy, though is flattered by their interest.

Liverpool are looking for a new transfer chief after Jorg Schmadtke left the club at the end of the January window.

90min understands the Reds would like to fill this vacancy first before switching their attentions to appointing a successor to manager Jurgen Klopp ahead of his departure this summer. Xabi Alonso currently leads their managerial shortlist but Liverpool want their new sporting director to have a say on the appointment.

Steidten is one name admired by decision-makers at Anfield in regards to the sporting director role, though he revealed to Sky Sports Germany no contact has been made yet and he is enjoying his work at West Ham.

"I've heard that I am supposed to be on the list at Liverpool. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so it's an honour. But so far nobody from LFC has contacted me yet," he said.

"I generally feel very comfortable at West Ham. I quickly realised how intense this league is. Accordingly, we signed the right players in the last transfer windows. The squad is strong, so we can achieve our goals.

"I am looking forward facing the next weeks and months until the end of the season. Of course we are already planing the next window. What happens to the future, we will see."

Steidten only joined West Ham last summer from Bayer Leverkusen, where he had spent four years as their head of scouting and then as their sports coordinator. Ironically, one of his tasks was to appoint Alonso as their manager in October 2022.

Prior to his spell at Leverkusen, Steidten took on various scouting and director roles at Werder Bremen across an 11-year stretch at the end of his modest playing career largely spent in Germany's lower leagues.

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