West Ham United have agreed a deal with Chelsea to reunite new head coach Graham Potter with his trusted recruitment analyst Kyle Macaulay.

The move could be seen as another blow to the long-term future of under-pressure technical director Tim Steidten, but it is understood Macaulay has been initially lined up for a different role.

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

Potter was appointed successor to former head coach Julen Lopetegui earlier this month and took two members of his old Chelsea staff, Billy Reid and Bruno Saltor, with him to the London Stadium.

Macaulay remained at Chelsea after Potter was sacked, working with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, together with co-director of recruitment Joe Shields and director of global recruitment Sam Jewell.

But he is now expected to move with Potter after a compensation deal was agreed between West Ham and Chelsea, and Macaulay expressed a desire to join Potter in east London. It is understood that paperwork is being finalised ahead of official confirmation, which is anticipated this week.

West Ham are in desperate need of new signings during the remainder of the January transfer window and Macaulay could now play a key role in that.

Potter has traditionally asked Macaulay to draw up reports on all transfer targets at his former clubs before giving his own opinion on whether or not they should be signed.

It remains to be seen whether the arrival of Macaulay ultimately leads to the exit of Steidten, who has been blamed for West Ham’s business of last summer that is yet to pay off.

As reported by Telegraph Sport, West Ham are expected to review the position of Steidten, who stepped away from the training ground during Lopetegui’s final weeks in charge.

Lopetegui’s departure has not lifted the pressure on Steidten, even though Potter said he can work with the German, who agreed to stay out of the dressing -room while David Moyes was in charge.

The fact West Ham are open to offloading teenage forward Luis Guilherme, whose £25.5 million signing has caused tension, this month is not viewed as a positive sign for Steidten.

Potter also took head of global goalkeeping Ben Roberts with him from Brighton to Chelsea, but there is no intention for him to move to West Ham.

Roberts works closely with Winstanley and Stewart and will remain at Stamford Bridge, rather than joining up with Potter and Co at West Ham.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr from sister club Strasbourg in the summer. Strasbourg signed Sarr for €10million (£8.5 million) in the summer and will make a healthy return on the player with Chelsea agreeing a deal between €13-15m (£11-13 million).