West Ham United are finalising the departure of technical director Tim Steidten after confirming the appointment of Kyle Macaulay as the club’s head of recruitment.

Telegraph Sport exclusively revealed that West Ham had agreed a deal with Chelsea to reunite Macaulay with head coach Graham Potter, having also first reported that Steidten’s job would be reviewed earlier this month.

Macaulay’s appointment, confirmed by Potter on Friday, coincides with West Ham working on Steidten’s exit, with the German following sacked manager Julen Lopetegui out of the exit door.

West Ham have not commented on Steidten’s impending exit, but Telegraph Sport has been told he has already had his access to Wyscout and internal information about transfers blocked.

Steidten has been criticised after West Ham spent around £100 million in the transfer window last summer with little return so far this season. He stepped away from the training ground during Lopetegui’s final weeks in charge and agreed to stay out of the dressing room while David Moyes was in charge.

Macaulay has worked with Potter at all four of the previous clubs he has coached – Ostersunds, Swansea City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea – and is one of the 49-year-old’s closest confidants.

Confirming his appointment, Potter said: “He’s been part of my staff for a number of years. He’s a good link between the club and the coach, so it’s easier for him to have certain conversations.

“I’m really happy with that appointment. He’s head of recruitment, so providing the link between the coach – me – and the club. Recruitment’s about having lots of conversations, so to have someone like him in will be great for the club and great for me.”

West Ham travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday and Potter revealed that Jarrod Bowen, who suffered a fractured foot in December, has now returned to training with the squad.

“Jarrod Bowen has been integrating into the group,” said Potter. “He’s had a couple of sessions, but it’s still early. We’ve got another day tomorrow so we’ll see, but it’s important we don’t rush it.

“It’s the same with Cry [Crysencio Summerville], he’s had a couple of sessions, but we need to see. There are no further problems from the weekend. It’s nice to have them back amongst it, but it’s important we manage it properly.”