Julen Lopetegui hones in on Joel Matip for West Ham’s perfect 10 as duo join Roma. West Ham are looking to make it a perfect 10 for the summer over the international break and the search is narrowing.
They don’t hand out trophies for it but West Ham are widely regarded to have ‘won the transfer window’ by many journalists and pundits. Why Are Modern Football Stadiums So Ugly?
PSG midfield ace Carlos Soler signed on loan from PSG on deadline to take West Ham’s summer tally to nine as part of Tim Steidten’s major rebuild.
Many fans have labelled it a 10/10 window already. Now it could literally be a perfect 10 as the Hammers look for one final addition before the Premier League squad deadline on September 14th.
Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd followed fellow centre-backs Angelo Ogbonna, Thilo Kehrer out of the West Ham exit on deadline day.
Julen Lopetegui has made it clear that he wants two senior players fighting for every position at West Ham. But the squad revamp has left the Spaniard with just three senior centre-backs.
West Ham want star given guard of honour at last club
Four is considered the ideal number. Especially as Lopetegui wants to be able to play three centre-backs in certain matches – or even mid-game.
With no bona fide back-up in that situation, it could leave the Hammers somewhat exposed. Indeed West Ham’s defending itself has already been exposed on several occasions as Lopetegi tries to knit his new team together.
The Irons have ridden their luck defensively in every game so far. But they were punished ruthlessly by Man City and Erling Haaland at the London Stadium.
After that 3-1 defeat, Lopetegui suggested West Ham are now looking at free agents for another potential addition.
After deadline day, Hammers News highlighted some of the quality free agents still available to West Ham. The list included German centre-backs Mats Hummels, 35, and 33-year-old Joel Matip following their departures from Dortmund and Liverpool.
Spaniard Mario Hermoso, 29, is also available and can play both centre-back and left-back – which is another position in which West Ham are light, especially given Aaron Cresswell’s injury.
Lopetegui hones in on Matip for West Ham’s perfect 10. Now Lopetegui is honing in on Matip for West Ham’s perfect 10 as duo join Roma.
Last month Hammers News exclusively reported that West Ham had an interest in Hummels. But German star Hummels along with fellow free agent Hermoso are set to join Roma according to Corriere dello Sport.
With the duo ruled out of contention in West Ham’s search for signing number 10, all eyes now are turning to ex Liverpool star Matip. The Cameroon international has over 200 Premier League appearances under his belt and clocked up nearly 260 in Bundesliga before that.
Matip was given a guard of honour by Liverpool against Wolves after it was confirmed he would be leaving Anfield. Now according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, quoting ExWHUemployee, West Ham’s search is narrowing to Matip with talks ongoing with his representatives.
Irish defender John Egan, who is 31, could also be considered according to Sheth’s update.
“West Ham United are exploring the free agent market to bring in a central defender,” Sheth said.
“Joel Matip and John Egan are two players they are looking at and talks are ongoing with their representatives as per @ExWHUEmployee. Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd left the club on loan last week.”
