Joël Matip could return to England a few months after leaving Liverpool, according to reports.
The German-born former Cameroon international last played any form of competitive football in December 2023 when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury that kept him out of the rest of Liverpool’s 2023/24 season. At the end of that season, he and Liverpool decided to end their partnership which began nine years ago when Jürgen Klopp, only recently appointed as the Reds gaffer, requested that they sign him.
Both he and Klopp left Anfield with the love of the club’s fans and while the German manager is currently on a sabbatical and weighing his options, Matip is believed to be looking for his next club.
Unlike many other long-serving club footballers, it seems the 33-year-old has chosen to keep it strictly professional with the Anfield outfit. Where many long-serving players decide they will not appear for any club in the same league as the club they served for ears, reports have Matip’s agents in talks with West Ham United over a move to the London Stadium.
Julen Lopetegui is worried about the depth of his centreback positions after loaning out Nayef Aguerd and selling club captain Kurt Zouma in the just concluded summer transfer window. He brought in Max Kilman from Wolves and Jean-Clair Todibo from OGC Nice to replace the Hammers’ starting CB pair from last season, but is not satisfied with just those two ahead of a bus season. He has asked the club to look into the free agent market to sign one more centreback for his team and the Hammers have settled upon Matip.
This could see the 201-cap former Liverpool man lose some love among the Merseyside faithful but it presents an opportunity for him to earn from football once again before he finally calls it quits in what is expected to be around five years time due to his age.
The Hammers are also looking at John Egan and hope to bring in either him or Matip for Lopetegui before the window to sign any free agents officially shuts.
Matip is also being offered to AS Roma by his agents, which means that West Ham will need to work harder to convince the Cameroonian to return to England if they really want him.
Roma just lost Chris Smalling to Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha which means they need another centreback. While the club have been holding talks with the representatives of another free agent, Mats Hummels, reps of other free agents including those of Matip have approached them.
Roma are believed to be interested in Matip, but only if their pursuit of Hummels falls through.
