West Ham are braced for an approach from Liverpool to poach highly-rated sporting director Tim Steidten after the January transfer window.
The Premier League leaders are in the market for a new sporting director after Jorg Schmadtke announced he will leave the club at the end of the 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 reject 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 occupying a more senior role to oversee the restructure of the club.