Mats Hummels now West Ham United preferred option for new centre-back transfer
Mats Hummels is now the “preferred option” for West Ham technical director Tim Steidten as he seeks to provide centre-back cover for head coach Julen Lopetegui, according to Sean Whetstone.
The reliable Hammers news source reported via his West Ham Football X account (3 September) that there are serious concerns over the fitness of fellow free agents Joel Matip and John Egan, who have also been linked with the London Stadium
It was reported on Monday (2 September) that the Hammers are ‘in talks’ [Dharmesh Sheth, 2 September] with the respective former Liverpool and Sheffield United men.
As such, Steidten views 2014 World Cup winner Hummels as the best solution, with Whetstone saying the former Borussia Dortmund man is well known to him already.
Mats Hummels would be a smart transfer for West Ham United
The 2024/25 summer transfer window was full of change for West Ham. Following their ninth-placed finish in the Premier League under David Moyes last term, Julen Lopetegui – with the help of technical director Steidten – has been busy forming a squad in his own mould to get the Hammers back into Europe.
With the likes of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma already exiting the London Stadium, it’s evident that an additional centre-back is needed alongside the likes of Max Kilman, Jean Clair-Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Although the latter has been Kilman’s partner for the vast majority of the season, it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise to see Todibo take over the Greece international’s role and form a partnership with fellow newbie, Kilman, after the international break has finished.
It felt as if a deal for Matip was edging ever closer after Sheth’s update but, as Whetstone himself mentioned, the former Liverpool man’s injury record leaves a lot to be desired.
Only time will tell whether the Hammers will bring in another defender but if they do, they could do far worse than someone of Hummels’ calibre.
In other West Ham news, a supercomputer has predicted the Hammers’ end-of-season position in the Premier League table.
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