In a recent print edition, The Sunday Mirror (Page 68) stated that West Ham United are hoping to land Joel Matip. It has been stated that the Hammers are eyeing a move to sign the Cameroonian centre-back on a free transfer.
Matip’s Recent Campaign At Liverpool
Matip experienced an injury-plagued season at the Merseyside club but managed to serve as an important squad player for them. The Cameroon international played in just 14 matches for the Reds in the previous campaign but failed to find the back of the net for them across all competitions.
The 33-year-old proved his worth as a reliable performer on the defensive end of the pitch by averaging 1.2 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 4.1 clearances per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He was even accurate with his ball distribution after completing 87.7% of his attempted passes in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).
Matip is a free agent at the moment which makes him an affordable option for the Hammers to pursue this month.
Should West Ham United Boss Julen Lopetegui Snap Matip Up?
Matip is a solid tackler of the ball and can read the danger well to earn the ball back for his side on the defensive end of the field. He usually clears the danger when the opposition are on the front foot and can use his strong 1.95m frame to win his fair share of aerial duels.
At 33, Matip is entering the last stage of his playing career, so he will only be a short-term fix to West Ham‘s defensive concerns. Still, the Hammers would be wise to get him on board soon as he would undeniably enhance the quality of Julen Lopetegui’s backline.
Matip has got a wealth of experience at the highest level and could be a real asset in West Ham‘s match-day squad this season. Therefore, the East London club should focus on snapping the Cameroonian central defender up on a free transfer this month.
At the very least, Matip would help the Hammers challenge across all fronts in the short term. However, he is a player on the decline which makes him a risky option for Lopetegui to consider this summer.
