Hummels Disappointment Forces Matip Rethink

West Ham are actively exploring the free agent market to strengthen their defensive options and have not been deterred by Mats Hummels decision to join AS Roma. The club has been linked with several players, including Joel Matip & John Egan in recent days and will now begin working down the list. It had been suggested that the Hammers had ended interest in former Liverpool defender Matip, but the club very much considered him to be a backup option should Hammels reject the chance to move to East London.

West Ham’s defence lacks the depth demanded by Julen Lopetegui, and the club is seeking to address these issues by adding experienced and quality defenders. The addition of a new defender would provide cover and competition, improving the overall strength of the backline.

There were concerns over 33 year old Matip’s fitness following a cruciate knee ligament injury, but todays disappointment may well force Tim Steidten to revisit a move for the player who had ‘advanced talks’ with the club on Monday.

West Ham’s decision won’t be overly influenced by financial considerations. The club needs to balance the cost of signing a new defender with their overall wage bill. However, as reported yesterday, the Hammers are currently running a lower wage bill than last season.