Keith Wyness concerned by Nils Koppen 'connection' as West Ham deal finalised
Nils Koppen may not have been West Ham United's best option as their new director of player recruitment.
This comes after the Irons confirmed the appointment of the 41-year-old on Saturday, eight days after Football Insider exclusively revealed the club were in advanced talks to hire Koppen.
However, Wyness is concerned by the existing connection between Koppen and West Ham's interim CEO Karim Virani, who previously worked together at Ibrox.
He has questioned whether Koppen has only been given the job due to that link, rather than another candidate potentially being preferred.
The new recruitment man will leave his role with Copenhagen to move to the London Stadium, and has also previously worked with PSV Eindhoven, plus Genk and Lommel in Belgium.
Karim Virani putting his 'own people' in at West Ham
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Koppen's appointment may be an attempt from Virani to get more of his trusted people in behind the scenes at West Ham.
Wyness suggested that the interim CEO is trying to fill a "power vacuum" that has been created by the David Sullivan saga.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, the Scottish businessman questioned whether Koppen may be a political appointment by the hierarchy.
"The interesting thing here is that the interim CEO at West Ham did work with Koppen before at Rangers, so there is a connection there, and that always worries me slightly," Wyness said.
"Is this the best option for them, or is it one they're just familiar with because they know each other and have worked together before?
"Sometimes you've been able to analyse people and see they work really well with you and you admire their work, and other times it can become the easier option just to call up somebody you know and get the transaction done.
"It would also point to the fact that Virani is actually filling a vacuum of power to a degree, left by the Sullivan situation right now, and he's making moves, and he's putting in some of his own people.
"So there's something there to be looked at as well in terms of the politics of West Ham right now. It certainly isn't a settled ship."
West Ham slammed for 'cheap solution'
Former Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa scout Bryan King recently told Football Insider that Koppen is likely to be a "cheap solution" for West Ham.
The former recruitment man questioned why the East Londoners were looking to Copenhagen to fill such an important position at the club.
King made it clear that he would have preferred to see West Ham pursue a more ambitious target, rather than making their move for Koppen.
However, the Belgian is now set to step on board at the London Stadium, in what is set to be a pivotal summer for the club on and off the pitch.