Graham Potter has held talks with Tim Steidten, the West Ham United technical director, with Julen Lopetegui on “borrowed time” as he tries to survive as the club’s head coach.

It has still to be decided whether Lopetegui is even allowed to take charge of Friday’s FA Cup third-round tie away to Aston Villa or is sacked before then.

Telegraph Sport revealed on Monday morning that Steidten had stepped away from working at the club’s training ground alongside Lopetegui and pictures later emerged of the German talking to Potter. It would now seem impossible that Steidten and Lopetegui can work together in any long-term capacity.

Potter almost replaced Lopetegui on a contract until the end of the season last month and appears to be in pole position to take over from the under-pressure Spaniard.

Heavy back-to-back defeats by Liverpool and Manchester City left West Ham in 14th place in the Premier League table ahead of the Villa tie and has led to further talks over Lopetegui’s precarious future.

Although senior sources denied that he had been sacked on Monday afternoon, they added that Lopetegui was on “borrowed time” and therefore unlikely to carry on. It would appear his position has become almost untenable.

It now remains to be seen whether Lopetegui will be in charge for the Villa game, but it seems impossible that he and Steidten can work together in any long-term capacity.

Steidten’s absence from the training ground prompted talk around the club about a rift growing between him and Lopetegui, but West Ham say it was predominantly linked to this month’s transfer window.

Steidten was appointed by West Ham in the summer of 2023 and has operated out of an office at the club’s training ground and the London Stadium. He also travels frequently as part of his job.

It was only in May last year that it was decided Steidten would not enter the first-team dressing room amid uncertainty over the future of former manager David Moyes. Moyes left the club at the end of last season, and it is understood Lopetegui’s appointment was made by co-owner David Sullivan rather than being recommended by Steidten.

Lopetegui was almost sacked following last month’s defeat by Leicester City. Former Chelsea manager Potter was discussed as a successor on a contract until the end of the season, while Edin Terzić, Roger Schmidt, Sérgio Conceição and Massimiliano Allegri were all considered.

West Ham decided to stick with Lopetegui, but his job is now under serious threat again with Potter seemingly lined up to take over. After the FA Cup game against Villa, West Ham entertain Fulham and Crystal Palace in the league.

Under Lopetegui, West Ham have lost 10 of their 22 fixtures conceding at least three goals on nine occasions with the head coach’s position being continually questioned. With Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town improving there has also been growing fears they are being slowly sucked towards the relegation zone.

Ideally West Ham would want to complete the campaign and carry out a review of Lopetegui’s future but that is proving impossible.

Steidten is also under pressure after West Ham spent around £100 million in the last transfer window on a number of players who have underperformed and failed to make an impact.

Striker Niclas Füllkrug, a £27 million recruit from Borussia Dortmund, scored only his second West Ham goal in the 4-1 defeat by City and has missed most of the season with an Achilles injury.

Luis Guilherme, a £25.5 million signing from Palmeiras, is yet to start a game for West Ham, although the winger is still only 18 years of age, while 30-year-old midfielder Guido Rodríguez has struggled.

West Ham are waiting to find out the extent of an injury another summer signing, defender Jean-Clair Todibo, suffered against City and Max Kilman is yet to live up to his £40 million fee.

West Ham weigh up striker swoop

West Ham are drawing up a list of forward targets for this month with Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan and Middlesbrough’s Latte Lath among those under consideration.

Injuries to Michail Antonio and captain Jarrod Bowen have left West Ham short of forwards and addressing that area of the pitch is the club’s top priority in January, although they are also looking at midfielders.

West Ham would ideally like to loan players in this month, although funds could be generated through sales for permanent moves.

As previously reported by Telegraph Sport, Ferguson has been touted for a loan move away from Brighton and it is believed the club would ideally like him to stay in the Premier League.

Ferguson has made 14 appearances for Brighton this season, scoring only one goal, but the 20-year-old Republic of Ireland international remains highly rated and has been tracked by a number of clubs.

It is understood that West Ham have already made an enquiry about Ferguson, but that Brighton want to be sure of Danny Welbeck’s fitness before making a decision on his future.

Wolves turned down a £21 million bid from Marseille for Hwang last summer and the South Korean has scored two goals in his last two games under new manager Vitor Pereira.

Lath has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including Leicester, having scored nine goals for Middlesbrough this season.

Other than drawing up a list of forward targets, West Ham would like to sign a new midfielder this month with Chelsea pair Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka on the club’s radar.