Report: West Ham’s Transfer U-Turn as Hammers Offer Two-Year Deal to 6ft 5in Defender

West Ham have recently been linked with signing Joel Matip, although it was reported that they had moved on from pursuing the former Liverpool defender.

Initially, the Hammers were said to be focusing on acquiring Mats Hummels after his potential move to Roma fell through.

However, West Ham missed out on the 35-year-old German, as he eventually signed with Roma, confirmed by AS Roma’s official website.

In the aftermath, West Ham turned their attention to free agent centre-back John Egan, though no final decision has been made.

Despite these developments, things seem to have shifted once again.

Joel Matip is now back on West Ham’s radar. The 33-year-old, having been released by Liverpool, is a free agent.

With West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui searching for a new centre-back, it’s unsurprising that Matip is being considered for a move to the London Stadium.

Standing at 6ft 5in, the Cameroon international, capped 27 times, is still regarded as capable of playing at a high level.

According to Caught Offside, West Ham has actually offered Matip a two-year contract, marking a significant reversal after earlier reports suggested the club had moved on from their interest in the former Schalke defender.

However, there are concerns surrounding Matip, particularly his injury history.

He has struggled with severe injuries in recent years and missed the entire second half of last season after suffering an ACL rupture.

While Matip is an excellent defender when fit, offering him a two-year deal is a gamble given his injury record.

Signing Matip would make a bold statement for West Ham and could be an exciting move, though not without its risks.

Personally, I believe John Egan might be the centre-back we ultimately sign, but only time will tell if that prediction comes true.