September 2nd 2024.
After eight successful years at Liverpool, Joel Matip made the difficult decision to leave the club over the summer. However, it seems he may have found a new home as reports have emerged that West Ham are in talks to sign the Cameroonian defender. Matip has been a free agent since his contract with Liverpool expired in July.
During his time at Liverpool, Matip was a key player under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp, making a total of 201 appearances for the team. He was part of the squad that won numerous trophies, including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup. Unfortunately, his final season with the club was cut short due to a cruciate ligament injury, and he hasn't played since last December.
However, Matip is now ready to return to action and it seems West Ham are interested in signing him. According to Sky Sports, the club is exploring the free agent market for a new centre-back and Matip is one of their top targets. Talks have already been held with the player's agent, as well as with former Sheffield United star John Egan.
West Ham's manager, Julen Lopetegui, has been busy this summer and has already made significant changes to the team's defence by signing highly-rated centre-backs Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo. However, with the recent departure of former captain Kurt Zouma and the loan exit of Nayef Aguerd, Lopetegui is concerned about the depth at the back and sees Matip as a valuable addition to the squad.
If the deal goes through in the next few days, Matip could potentially make his debut for West Ham against his former club when they face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup third-round on September 17. Before that, the team will take on Fulham in the Premier League on September 14, hoping to improve their performance under their new manager.
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