By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

19th May, 2023 | 1:30pm

Sources: West Ham open Lee Dykes deal amid Michael Edwards reveal

West Ham are in talks with Brentford director Lee Dykes over a role at the club, sources have told Football Insider.

The Hammers are eager to appoint a director of football this summer and have made Dykes a top target after his success in London.

It is understood that West Ham have contacted multiple candidates over the role, with ex-Monaco director Paul Mitchell and former Liverpool chief Michael Edwards also at the top of the club’s recruitment list.

The West Ham board have finalised the decision to appoint a director of football after growing frustrated at their poor transfer business in recent seasons under David Moyes.

Moyes was backed with a huge budget last summer, but the big-money arrivals of Lucas Paqueta, Gianluca Scamacca and Nayef Aguerd have largely underwhelmed this season.

The Scottish manager has now been informed by the club hierarchy that a director will be appointed in the summer to assist with transfer activity.

Dykes has spent four years at Brentford and was promoted to technical director in 2022 after impressing in his previous role as the head of recruitment.

The 39-year-old was responsible for signing the likes of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo in recent seasons under a tight budget.

Highly-rated Mitchell has also been contacted after he confirmed that he will leave Monaco this summer, while Edwards is out of a job after leaving Anfield at the end of last season.

In other news, West Ham plan revealed after Arsenal first Declan Rice bid update