Jeff Stelling gets it totally wrong as Joel Matip to West Ham United transfer verdict shared
West Ham are set to enter the free-agent transfer market to add a new defender to Julen Lopetegui’s squad.
The closure of the transfer window has left the Spaniard with Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos at his disposal, with Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd heading out the exit door.
Given that this has left the manager with just three senior centre-backs for the 2024/25 campaign, it is no surprise to see the Hammers looking for a free transfer to boost the depth in defence.
It is understood that the club are expected to continue talks with Joel Matip during the international break [The Standard] and Jeff Stelling has now shared his verdict on the former Liverpool man arriving at the London Stadium.
Speaking live via talkSPORT on Wednesday (4 September, 7:29am), Stelling said: “I’ll tell you one who I would take a punt on though. You mentioned Mats Hummels, but West Ham are also being linked with Joel Matip at the moment.
“Recent Premier League experience has been great for Liverpool over the years and I think he’s 33. I know West Ham are interested so I’d certainly be taking a look at Joel Matip.”
West Ham United to take chance on Joel Matip?
While the transfer fee for Matip would be zero, as a free agent, his wages would be much more considerable, having played at the highest level with Liverpool for eight seasons.
Playing over 200 games for the Reds, he became an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s Champions League-winning side but went missing during the 2023/24 campaign due to injury.
The 33-year-old centre-back has not played a single minute of football since December 2023, suffering a cruciate ligament injury and being unable to return to the pitch.
This is not just a one-off long-term injury either. The centre-half missed 154 days with an ankle issue during the 2020/21 campaign, 80 days with a knee injury during the 2019/20 campaign, and another 91 days with a hamstring injury during the 2017/18 campaign [Transfermarkt].
Matip is clearly extremely injury-prone, which should not make him an attractive addition for the Hammers. He has started 69 Premier League games from a possible 190 during the last five seasons.
Of course, he would add a lot of experience to the backline, which Lopetegui might appreciate, but it seems like a bit of a reckless transfer decision to sanction.
The ideal target would have been former Borussia Dortmund man Mats Hummels, who Tim Steidten knows well [Sean Whetstone], but it seems he is now on his way to Roma, sadly [Gianluca Di Marzio].
In other West Ham news, one Hammers ace has travelled with his national team despite new injury development.
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