West Ham United could still be set for new talks to sign a "fantastic" free agent for manager Julen Lopetegui, with the player still available and looking for a club after a failed move to Bayer Leverkusen.
West Ham hold talks with free agents as Lopetegui chases new addition
Despite signing nine new players and spending around £120 million over the summer window, it is believed technical director Tim Steidten have been looking into the free agent market lately to shore up a few key areas.
West Ham consider move for free agent striker after Fullkrug injury blow
The German suffered an achilles tendon injury on international duty.
ByEmilio GalantiniSep 11, 2024
West Ham have apparently considered signing a free striker following Niclas Fullkrug's achilles tendon injury sustained on international duty with Germany, and before that, there were claims the Hammers were actively seeking another centre-back.
West Ham summer signings
From
Fee (Transfermarkt)
Max Kilman
Wolves
€47.5m
Crysencio Summerville
Leeds United
€29.3m
Niclas Fullkrug
Borussia Dortmund
€27m
Luis Guilherme
Palmeiras
€23m
Mohamadou Kante
Paris FC
Undisclosed
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Man Utd
€18m
Wes Foderingham
Sheffield United
Free transfer
Guido Rodriguez
Real Betis
Free transfer
Jean-Clair Todibo
Nice
Loan transfer
Carlos Soler
PSG
Loan transfer
West Ham summer departures
To
Fee (Transfermarkt)
Flynn Downes
Southampton
€17.85m
James Ward-Prowse
Forest
Loan
Maxwel Cornet
Southampton
Loan
Nayef Aguerd
Real Sociedad
Loan
Said Benrahma
Lyon
€14.4m
Angelo Ogbonna
Watford
Free transfer
Thilo Kehrer
Monaco
€11m
Nathan Trott
FC Copenhagen
€1.5m
Ben Johnson
Ipswich Town
Free transfer
Joseph Anang
St. Patrick's Athletic
Free transfer
Indeed, West Ham held talks with ex-Sheffield United defender John Egan after his Bramall Lane exit, but the Irishman has now joined Burnley on a free transfer instead – despite playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Dagenham and Redbridge recently (ExWHUemployee).
Lopetegui was also offered a chance to sign Yusuf Yazici for West Ham, according to some reports, with the Turkey international still on the hunt for a new club after leaving Lille.
The departures of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma on loan have left Lopetegui quite short in central defence, though, with Jean-Clair Todibo, Konstaninos Mavropanos and Max Kilman standing out as his only senior central defensive options.
West Ham could hold new talks with Joel Matip
Alongside Egan, West Ham also held talks with ex-Liverpool defender Joel Matip.
The Champions League-winning ace, valued at around £7 million by Transfermarkt, is still available after seeing a late summer move to Bayer Leverkusen collapse. That is according to RUHR 24, who also suggest that West Ham could go back in for Matip with further negotiations.
The Cameroonian made over 200 appearances for Liverpool, attracting real praise for some of his performances, even if his final year at Anfield was blighted by injury.
Called "fantastic" by Jamie Carragher, his fitness record would be a concern for Lopetegui and West Ham, but Matip would also bring plenty of pedigree and experience.
